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BIOGRAPHY 


OP 


KEY.  HOSEA  BALLOU. 


BY  fflS  YOUNQEST  SON, 


MATURIN   M.  BALLOU. 


"  He  staggered  not  at  the  promise  of  Qod  through  unbelief ;  but  was  strong  in  faith, 
giving  glory  to  God :  and  being  fully  persviaded  that  what  he  had  promised  he  was 
able  also  to  perform." 


[BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED  BY  ABEL  TOMPKINS. 

1852. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1852,  by 

ABEL   TOMPKINS, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Coiu-t  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


■    c        I         J(TSKE<H'Y,»'J4')  BY  , 
'.  .       ,  ;  H'0\BAB,>'  '^    ROB  BINS, 
N1?W  .to(4lAS'i>",T|-i'B;  A>-D  •  STEREOTYPE  FOUNDBBT, 
BOSTON.' 


TO    THE 

SECOND  UNIVERSALIST  SOCIETY 

OP     BOSTON, 
THIS  BIOGRAPHY  OF  THEIR  LATE  PASTOR  IS  RESPECTFULLY 

IBchicatch, 

BY    THEIR     HUMBLE    SERVANT, 

THE    AUTHOR. 


AUTHOR^S    PREFACE. 


To  say  that  the  author  experiences  a  degree 
of  diffidence  in  writing  upon  the  theme  and 
subject  of  these  pages,  would  but  inadequately- 
express  his  true  feelings  on  taking  up  the  pen 
for  this  object.  But  he  does  it  with  a  purpose 
of  strict  adherence  to  facts,  nor  will  any  matter 
be  suppressed  or  one  iota  added  to  the  truth. 
No  one  who  shall  read  a  dozen  pages  herein 
relating  to  the  early  life  of  Rev.  Hosea  Ballou, 
but  will  at  once  acquit  the  author  of  any  false 
pride  as  it  regards  chronicling  the  events  and 
circumstances  of  the  subject's  life.  He  is  most 
happy  to  state  the  facts  literally,  and  he  is  sat- 
isfied as  to  the  verdict  that  every  unprejudiced 
mind  will  render. 

It  may  be  said  that  a  son  cannot  write  a 
faithful  history  of  a  parent  —  that  such  a  pro- 
duction must  needs  be  partial,  —  though  we 
have  numerous  instances  of  the  contrary.  To 
such  an  objection  the  writer  would  reply,  that 
1* 


VI  PREFACE. 

there  is  but  one  side  to  truth,  and  it  is  this, 
and  this  only,  that  the  reader  will  find  in  these 
pages.  He  offers  no  labored  extenuation  or 
defence,  —  there  are  no  circumstances  that  re- 
quire it ;  no  appeal  or  pleading  for  a  verdict  of 
acquittal,  —  for  there  are  no  charges  to  refute  ; 
but  he  gives  a  simple,  unvarnished  biography 
of  a  true  Christian  and  a  faithful  disciple  of 
the  gospel,  whose  whole  life,  even  from  earliest 
youth,  has  been  a  beautiful  and  consistent  trib- 
ute to  truth.  For  some  time  previous  to  the 
decease  of  the  subject  of  this  biography  the 
author  contemplated  the  present  work,  and  for 
this  purpose  has,  at  various  times,  kept  minutes 
relative  to  dates  of  his  father's  movements  ;  and 
he  has  also  been  briefly  assisted  by  memoranda 
and  short  articles  from  his  father's  pen,  which 
are  embodied  herein,  relative  to  his  feelings 
concerning  himself  and  his  doctrine.  The  frame- 
work, so  to  speak,  of  the  book,  has  therefore 
been  in  hand  for  a  considerable  period;  and 
the  placing  of  it  in  a  proper  form  for  the  printer 
has  been  all  the  author  has  attempted  since  the 
death  of  his  respected  father. 

M.  M.  Ballou. 

Boston,  Sept.,  1852. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER    I 


PAGE 
INTRODUCTORY, 9 


CHAPTER    II. 

BIRTH  AND    PARENTAGE, 14 

CHAPTER    III. 

EARLY  LIFE, 22 

CHAPTER    IV. 
BECOMES  A  PROFESSOR  OF  RELIGION, 88 

CHAPTER    V. 

COMMENCES  TO  PREACH, 62 

CHAPTER    VI. 
BECOMES  A  SETTLED   MINISTER, 64 

CHAPTER    VII. 

REMOTES  TO  PORTSMOUTH,  N.  H., 89 

CHAPTER    VIII. 
SETTLES  IN  BOSTON, 103 


Vm  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    IX. 

PAOB 

COMMENCES  THE  UNIYERSALIST  MAGAZINE, 120 

CHAPTER    X. 
COMMENCES  THE  UNIYERSALIST  EXPOSITOR, 136 

CHAPTER    XI. 
DOMESTIC  AND  PERSONAL  CHARACTERISTICS, 173 

CHAPTER     XII. 

MR.  BALLOU  AS  A  CONTROVERSIALIST, 231 

CHAPTER    XIII. 
SPIRIT  OF  HIS  DOCTRINE, 258 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

SENTIMENTS  RELATIVE  TO  DEATH, 322 

CHAPTER    XV. 

END  OF  HIS   EARTHLY  MISSION, 366 

CHAPTER    XVI. 
CONCLUSION, 392 


BIOGRAPHY 


CHAPTER   I. 

INTRODUCTORY. 

The  gratitude  of  mankind  has  not  failed  to  record  with 
honor  the  names  of  those  who  have  been  the  inventors  of 
useful  improvements  in  the  arts,  or  the  authors  of  scien- 
tific discoveries,  of  brave  warriors  and  wise  statesmen; 
ancient  history  reveals  to  us  the  time  when  the  inventors 
of  letters  and  the  plough,  were  revered  as  divinities.  If 
there  are  any  who  are  actually  worthy  of  being  remem- 
bered by  the  world,  they  are  those  who  have  proved  them- 
selves, by  the  lives  they  have  led,  and  by  their  holy 
teachings,  to  be  benefactors  of  the  human  fiimily,  and 
true  followers  of  Christ. 

It  is  conceded  by  all,  that  biography  is  a  most  impor- 
tant species  of  history.  Through  its  agency,  men  who 
have  been  distinguished  for  merit,  talent,  or  any  peculiar 
virtue,  are  remembered,  and,  though  they  may  be  per- 
sonally lost  to  us,  yet  the  good  influence  they  exerted 


10  BIOGRAPHY. 

during  their  lives,  is  made  to  continue  for  our  benefit. 
The  biography  of  any  eminent  individual  must  be,  in  some 
degree,  a  chronicle  of  the  times  in  which  he  lived,  and 
thus,  though  the  production  may  be  of  the  most  humble 
character,  the  pages  of  history  are  enriched,  and  the 
records  of  the  past  perfected.  We  think  it  was  the  Rev. 
John  Ewart,  M.  A.,  a  noted  English  divine,  who  set  it 
down  as  one  of  the  most  interesting  reflections  relative  to 
biographical  reading,  that  we  may  see  and  know  in 
heaven,  those  whose  life  and  excellent  works  we  have 
read  of  here.  This  is,  perhaps,  rather  a  peculiar  argu- 
ment, but  not  inappropriate  in  this  connection. 

For  our  own  part,  we  have  ever  perused,  with  the  live- 
liest satisfaction,  any  book  of  a  biographical  character,  and 
believe  that  such  works  are  almost  universally  read  with 
avidity  and  profit.  With  living  men  and  present  meas- 
ures, there  is  generally  some  prejudice  or  passion  con- 
nected. But  when  death  has  set  his  seal  upon  a  worthy 
character,  and  he  has  departed  from  the  din  and  conflict 
of  the  world,  then  we  can  receive  the  full  benefit  of  his 
example.  For  it  is  very  true  that  genius  rarely  shines 
with  full  lustre  until  death  hath  unroofed  it  of  envy.  It 
will,  therefore,  be  my  object  in  these  pages  to  adhere  to 
those  facts  best  fitted  to  illustrate  the  personal  character 
of  Mr.  Ballou,  and  to  furnish  the  means  of  estimating: 
aright  the  services  he  rendered  to  his  own  and  subsequent 
times,  that  his  memory  may  remain  to  us  in  evergreen 
freshness  and  beauty,  and  thus  renew  to  posterity  the 
savor  of  a  good  life, 


INTRODUCTORY.  11 

It  is  the  usual  practice  with  biographers  to  dwell  at 
length  and  in  explanation  upon  the  discoveries  and  doc- 
trines of  the  object  of  their  labors,  forgetting,  apparently, 
that  these  things  are  almost  universally  known  already, 
and  that  the  main  design  of  a  biography  should  be  to 
make  public  and  illustrate  the  private  life  of  those  whom 
the  world  already  knows  as  philosophers,  statesmen, 
divines,  or  otherwise.  It  is  said  of  Mallet,  that  he  wrote 
the  life  of  Lord  Bacon,  and  forgot  that  he  was  a  philoso- 
pher. But  this  is  rarely  the  case,  for  it  is  the  prevailing 
custom,  and  has  ever  been,  to  forget  the  man  in  the 
remembrance  of  the  philosopher.  It  is  the  traits  of  per- 
sonal character,  those  slight,  yet  important  incidents  and 
anecdotes  which  mark  the  individual's  e very-day  life,  that, 
when  preserved  and  recorded,  form  the  great  interest  and 
charm  of  biography.  Plutarch,  the  writer  of  half  a  hun- 
dred lives,  in  that  of  Alexander  says:  —  "As  painters 
"  labor  the  likeness  in  the  face,  so  must  we  be  permitted 
"  to  strike  off  the  features  of  the  soul,  in  order  to  give  a 
*^  real  likeness  of  these  great  men." 

Hence,  biography  written  in  a  true  spirit,  while  some- 
thing quite  different  from  history,  is,  nevertheless,  an 
important  supplement  and  aid  to  it,  throwing  light  into  its 
dark  corners,  and  explaining  its  obscurity.  For  the  his- 
torian, in  the  spirit  of  the  painter  or  poet,  must  dispense 
with  all  the  minutiae  of  detail  which  would  interfere  with 
the  effect  of  his  conception.  He  has  a  broad  canvas, 
crowded  with  many  figures,  and  in  the  grouping  of  these, 
the  bringing  out  of  strong  points,  the  handling  of  the 


12  BIOGRAPHY. 

light  and  shade,  many  minor  points  must  be  obliterated, 
or  thrown  into  the  background.  He  presents  us  with 
truth,  indeed,  but  not  with  the  whole  truth.  The  histo- 
rian shows  us  the  warrior  in  the  hour  of  battle,  on  the 
field  of  review,  or  in  the  pomp  of  a  military  triumph ; 
the  statesman  in  the  light  of  a  senatorial  victory,  as  he 
appears  before  the  broad  gaze  of  the  world ;  the  divine 
clad  in  his  sacerdotal  robe,  at  the  high  altar,  or  in  the 
pulpit,  at  the  moment  of  addressing  listening  crowds,  and 
swaying  the  hearts  of  men  by  the  fervor  of  his  elo- 
quence. 

The  biographer,  on  the  other  hand,  dealing  with  indi- 
viduals and  not  with  masses,  painting  portraits  and  not 
groups,  is  permitted  a  more  elaborate  finish  in  the  treat- 
ment of  his  subject.  He  shows  us  the  soldier  not  only 
in  the  hour  of  battle,  but  in  the  privacy  of  his  tent,  or  in 
the  bosom  of  his  family ;  the  statesman  in  his  study,  or 
unbending  from  his  public  tasks  in  social  intercourse ;  the 
divine  in  the  daily  walks  of  life,  in  the  discharge  of 
parochial  duties,  amid  the  toils  and  trials  common  to  all 
humanity.  The  biographer  is  often  at  variance  with  the 
historian  in  treating  the  same  subject.  He  often  shows 
us  the  littleness  of  the  great ;  for  many  a  prominent  actor 
in  the  world's  great  drama  wears  a  mask  upon  the  public 
stage  that  conceals  his  real  features.  Few  men  are 
found  abroad,  beneath  the  searching  light  of  heaven,  with 
the  same  aspect  of  soul,  the  same  undisguised  native 
promptings,  visible  in  every  act  and  word,  as  characterize 
them  at  their  own  firesides,  and  surrounded  by  those  who 


INTRODUCTORY.  13 

know  them  most  intimately.  It  is  truly  going  ''  behind 
the  scenes"  to  enter  the  domestic  circle,  for  there  the 
artificial  man  must  be  dropped,  the  cloak  that  is  some- 
times worn  before  the  eyes  of  the  world  is  laid  aside,  and 
we  have  the  soul  unmasked  indeed. 

It  will  be  our  endeavor,  in  the  following  pages,  to  illus- 
trate the  perfect  harmony  of  a  Christian  character,  the 
daily  beauty  of  whose  private  life  accorded  with  that  of 
his  public  career ;  through  whose  existence  religion  ran 
like  a  silver  thread,  linking  all  its  component  parts 
together,  —  who  "  showed  the  path  to  heaven  and  led  the 
way."  The  world  is  anxious,  when  it  contemplates  the 
memory  of  such  an  exalted  character,  to  know  the  steps 
by  which  the  subject  rose  to  the  situation  which  he  filled, 
as  well  as  the  incidents  by  which  he  terminated  his  noted 
career.  We  are  gratified  to  observe  such  characters  in 
the  private  walks  of  life,  to  follow  them  into  their  families 
and  closets,  and  to  discover  thus  how  those  who  chal- 
lenged the  respect  and  admiration  of  the  times  in  which 
they  lived,  conducted  themselves  amid  those  cares  and 
duties  common  alike  to  the  humble  and  the  exalted. 
These  remarks  will  introduce  the  reader  to  the  plan  of 
the  present  work. 
2 


CHAPTER   II. 


BIRTH    AND    PARENTAGE. 


HosEA  Ballou  was  born,  April  30th,  1771,  in  the 
town  of  Richmond,  New  Hampshire,  a  small  village 
situated  in  the  county  of  Cheshire,  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  State ;  at  that  time  little  more  than  an  uncleared 
wilderness.  The  site  of  his  birth-place  is  now  a  most 
attractive  and  lovely  valley,  scooped  out  from  the  rough 
hills  and  mountains  of  the  Granite  State,  and  known  as 
Ballou' s  Dale ;  surrounded  by  the  most  romantic  scenery, 
the  beauties  of  which  he  used  to  dwell  upon  in  after 
years,  and  to  sing  their  praise  in  verse.  The  neighboring 
country  is  of  a  bold  and  rugged  character,  and  is  to  this 
day  but  thinly  settled.  It  was  here  that  he  first  drew 
breath  in  an  humble  cottage-home  among  the  hills. 

The  influence  of  nature  in  the  formation  of  character 
has  been  much  insisted  on  by  metaphysicians,  and  not 
without  ample  reason.  The  qualities  of  men  are  found 
to  assimilate  very  closely  to  the  characteristics  of  the 


BIRTH   AND    PARENTAGE.  15 

country  they  inhabit.  Thus  the  mountaineer  is  bold, 
rugged,  hardy,  independent,  and  fond  of  liberty.  In 
Europe,  surrounded  on  every  hand  by  despotism,  Alpine 
Switzerland  has  preserved  its  political  independence  for 
ages.  But  especially  is  the  power  of  natural  scenery 
"witnessed  in  the  nurture  of  deep  religious  feeling. 

*'  The  groves  were  God's  first  temples." 

The  first  prayer  uttered  by  man  was  breathed  to  his 
Creator  in  a  garden,  among  the  ohve  trees  of  Eden. 
The  disciples  of  our  Saviour  hstened  to  their  Lord  in  the 
deep  wilderness,  in  the  awful  solitude  of  rugged  moun- 
tains. In  the  heart  of  mighty  forests  and  by  the  shores 
of  ever-rushing  rivers,  the  littleness  of  man,  contrasting 
with  the  grandeur  of  creation,  speaks  to  his  awakened 
soul  of  the  omnipotence  and  goodness  of  God.  Where 
men  are  banded  together  in  great  cities,  in  the  midst  of 
splendors  and  triumphs  of  art,  they  are  apt  to  feel  a 
pride  and  self-reliance  which  abandon  them  in  the  face 
of  nature.  Apart  from  the  frequent  spectacle  of  man's 
handiwork,  the  dweller  in  the  country  learns  how  all 
human  skill  is  impotent  to  imitate  the  smallest  feature  in 
the  great  work  of  creation ;  to  create  the  lightest  blade  of 
grass  that  bends  in  the  summer  breeze ;  to  fabricate  even 
the  minutest  grain  of  sand  that  sparkles  by  the  river 
shore.  Then,  as  he  lifts  his  eyes  from  earth  to  heaven, 
and  beholds  at  night  the  starry  host  above  him  wheeling 
unerringly  upon  their  appointed  courses,  his  mind  cannot 


16  .  BIOGRAPHY. 

but  acknowledge  the  existence  of  God,  and  the  immeas- 
urable greatness  of  his  attributes. 

It  will  be  seen,  in  the  course  of  this  narrative,  that  the 
influences  we  have  alluded  to  must  have  produced  a 
powerful  eifect  upon  a  mind  constituted  like  that  of  the 
subject  of  this  biography.  ' 

In  relation  to  the  genealogy  of  the  family,  we  have  it 
in  detail  as  far  back,  on  the  paternal  side,  as  his  great- 
great-grandfather,  Matteaurian  Ballou, —  so  the  name 
was  spelled  by  him, —  who  came  from  England,  though 
a  Frenchman  by  descent,  about  the  year  1640.  He 
occupied  a  portion  of  a  royal  grant  of  land,  about  that 
time  purchased  from  the  Narraganset  tribe  of  Indians,  by 
the  agent  of  the  crown.  This  tract  was  situated  in  the 
present  State  of  Rhode  Island,  where  descendants  of  the 
family  still  reside.  This  Matteaurian  Ballou' s  oldest  son 
"was  named  John,  whose  second  son  was  named  Matteau- 
rian, who,  also,  had  a  son  named  Matteaurian,  who  in 
turn  had  eleven  children,  —  six  sons  and  five  daughters. 
The  youngest  of  the  family  was  named  Hosea,  the  subject 
of  these  memoirs. 

His  father,  Rev.  Maturin  Ballou,  was  remarkable  for 
his  unostentatious  manner,  his  forgiving  spirit  and  meek- 
ness, and  the  strict  consistency  of  a  life  devoted,  as  he 
truly  believed,  to  the  service  and  glory  of  his  Divine 
Master.  He  remained  a  highly  respected  and  influential 
member  of  the  Baptist  church  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-tw^o  years.  When  his  son  differed 
from  him  so  materially  in  faith,  though  it  sorely  grieved 


BIRTH   AND    PARENTAGE.  17 

the  parent's  heart,  it  never  for  one  moment  influenced 
him  in  his  affection  for  his  child.  His  conduct  towards 
him  was  uniformly  kind  and  solicitous,  as  was  also 
the  son's  regard  for  his  father  of  the  most  loving  and 
respectful  character.  Whenever  referring  to  his  father, 
the  subject  of  this  biography  never  failed  to  do  so  with 
that  respect  and  honor  for  his  memory  that  was  ever 
cherished  by  him,  and  which  formed  a  beautiful  trait 
of  his  character. 

In  this  connection  it  may  not  be  inappropriate  nor 
uninteresting  to  say  a  few  words  concerning  the  brothers 
and  sisters  of  Hosea,  the  youngest  member  of  the 
family.  Benjamin,  the  oldest,  was  a  man  of  strict  integ- 
rity, and  possessed  a  penetrating  and  powerful  intel- 
lect. For  some  years  the  power  of  early  influences  and 
associations  moulded  his  life,  and  he  preached  the  Baptist 
religion,  but  was  subsequently  converted  to  Universalism, 
by  his  younger  brother,  Hosea,  and  lived  and  died  in  its 
faith,  continuing  to  the  good  old  age  of  eighty-two  years. 
This  was  the  grandfather  of  Rev.  Dr.  Ballou,  of  Medford, 
Mass. ;  Bev.  William  S.  Ballou,  of  Strafford,  Vt.,  and 
Rev.  Levi  Ballou,  of  Orange,  Mass.  Maturin  was  the 
second  son,  who  was  also  a  Baptist  minister,  of  strict 
morality  and  honorable  career,  but  who  died  at  the  early 
age  of  thirty-five  years.  In  his  manuscript,  Mr.  Ballou 
says,  relative  to  this  brother :  "  He  grew  very  liberal  in 
"  his  sentiments  towards  the  last  of  his  labors,  and  was 
*'  one  of  the  most  loving  and  devout  Christians  that  I 
*'  ever  knew."  David  was  the  third  son,  and  he  also 
2* 


18  BIOGRAPHY. 

preached  the  Baptist  faith,  but,  like  the  eldest  brother, 
was  ere  long  persuaded  of  the  truth  of  the  doctrine  of 
universal  salvation,  which  he  preached  for  many  years, 
possessing  a  strong  and  well  balanced  mind,  and  powerful 
argumentative  abilities.  He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two.  This  was  the  father  of  Rev.  Moses  Ballou,  of 
Bridgeport,  Ct.  The  fourth  son  was  named  Nathan,  a 
man  of  remarkable  mental  and  physical  strength,  who 
gave  his  attention  mainly  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and 
who  lived  to  be  nearly  eighty  years  of  age.  This  was 
the  grandfather  of  the  present  Rev.  Russel  A.  Ballou,  of 
West  Bridgewater,  Mass.  Stephen  was  the  fifth  son,  and 
combining  many  of  the  best  qualities  of  his  elder  brothers, 
and  possessing  a  most  upright  and  conscientious  disposi- 
tion, was  yet  remarkable  for  the  endowment  of  a  large 
degree  of  native  wit  and  good  humor.  He  also  devoted 
himself  to  agriculture,  and  lived  to  nearly  the  age  of 
seventy.  All  of  these  brothers  were  possessed  of  a  hand- 
some competency,  realized  by  their  own  economy  and 
industry.  The  daughters  were  variously  espoused,  and 
lived,  all  but  one,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty,  to  be 
venerable  and  honored  in  years,  and  with  a  numerous 
offspring. 

On  the  maternal  side,  these  children  were  descended 
from  Lydia  Harris,  daughter  of  Richard  Harris,  who,  like 
his  ancestors,  was  a  Quaker.  His  forefathers  came  to 
this  country  to  escape  the  persecution  of  the  seventeenth 
century  in  England,  when  the  infatuated  and  tyrannical 
Charles  was  oppressing  his  subjects  by  restricting  the 


BIRTH  AND  PARENTAGE.  19 

freedom  of  industry,  and  billeting  soldiers  upon  the 
people  in  times  of  peace ;  when  the  private  papers  of 
citizens  were  searched  on  mere  suspicion,  and  when  the 
bigoted  Laud  ruled  with  as  high  a  hand  and  reckless  a 
purpose  in  the  church,  as  his  royal  master  did  in  the 
state.  Citizens  claiming  the  right  of  freely  uttering  what 
they  honestly  believed  to  be  true,  on  the  subject  of 
religion,  were  fined,  whipped,  and  imprisoned.  Ministers 
and  educated  citizens  were  branded  on  the  forehead,  their 
noses  slit,  and  their  ears  cropped,  for  dissenting  from 
Popish  rites  and  ceremonies.  To  escape  such  intolerable 
persecution,  Quakers  crossed  the  ocean.  But,  alas  !  per- 
secution followed  them  even  in  the  wilds  of  America. 
Individuals  who  had  left  home,  friends,  country  and  all, 
to  gain  the  privilege  of  worshipping  the  Almighty  after 
the  dictates  of  their  own  consciences,  did  not  hesitate  to 
deny  others  that  privilege  for  which  they  had  themselves 
sacrificed  so  much,  simply  because  they  difiered  from 
them  in  form  of  faith. 

We  should  not  omit  to  mention  in  this  place  the 
remarkable  degree  of  affection  that  ever  actuated  the  sub- 
ject of  this  biography  towards  each  and  all  of  the  mem- 
bers of  his  father's  extensive  family ;  and  this  feeling  was 
reciprocal  too;  especially  have  we  personally  observed 
this  on  the  part  of  the  brothers,  whom  he  frequently 
visited,  through  the  entire  period  of  their  lives.  Much 
older  than  himself,  as  far  back  as  our  memory  of  them 
extends  they  were  venerable  and  grey-haired  men,  and 
treated  Hosea  more  like  a  son  than  a  brother.     Their 


20  BIOGRAPHY. 

meetings  together,  from  time  to  time,  were  reunions  of 
great  satisfaction  and  happiness.  Fully  admitting  his 
superior  scriptural  knowledge  and  judgment,  they  de- 
lighted to  converse  upon  the  theme  of  religion,  and 
mutually  to  express  the  strength  of  their  faith  and  the 
joy  they  found  in  helieving.  It  was  this  younger  brother 
who  converted  them  to  the  belief  of  God's  impartial  and 
free  grace,  and  they  died  at  last  with  their  minds  freed 
from  every  doubt  as  it  regarded  the  subject  One  or  two 
of  these  brothers  had  believed  what  was  called  Universal- 
ism  quite  as  early  as  had  Hosea,  but  they  had  believed  it 
as  it  was  then  taught  on  the  old  Calvinistic  principle, 
which  made  it  in  reality  anything  but  Universalism.  It 
was  from  this  ill-defined  platform,  this  faith  of  inconsist- 
encies, that  Hosea  brought  their  minds  to  embrace  that 
creed  which  is  now  acknowledged  as  the  doctrine  of  the 
Universalist  denomination.  When  he  spoke  to  them  and 
of  them,  it  was  with  that  tender  and  aifectionate  regard 
with  which  his  heart  was  ever  filled  to  overflowincr. 

o 

I  have  taken  some  pains  to  state  the  foregoing  facts 
of  genealogy  thus  carefully,  merely  for  the  sake  of  com- 
pleteness, and  not  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  the  fact 
that  the  family  is  "an  old  one."  The  idea  that  to  be 
able  to  trace  back  one's  pedigree  any  great  length  of 
time,  imparts  any  degree  of  merit  or  distinction  in  itself, 
is  a  palpable  absurdity,  inasmuch  as  the  further  back  we 
refer  ourselves  in  our  origin,  the  more  nearly  do  we 
approximate  to  the  same  ancestry  with  the  veriest  serf 
in  the  world.     Sir  Thomas  Overbury  said  of  a  man  who 


BIRTH  AND   PARENTAGE.  21 

boasted  of  his  ancestry,  that  he  was  like  a  potato  plant, 
—  the  best  thing  belonging  to  him  was  under  ground ! 
Mr.  Ballou  was  no  pensioner  upon  the  dead.  The  laurels 
that  surrounded  the  brow  of  his  riper  years  were  self- 
earned,  and  worthy  of  emulation. 


CHAPTER  III. 

EARLY  LIFE. 

The  life  of  Hosea  Ballou  may  be  said  to  have  com- 
menced with  one  of  the  saddest  of  bereavements,  for  at 
the  tender  age  of  two  years  he  had  the  misfortune  to 
lose  his  maternal  parent,  who  died,  leaving  him  the 
youngest  of  eleven  children.  Thus  it  was  his  unhappy 
lot  never  to  know  the  fond  regard  and  pure  affection  of  a 
mother,  that  holiest  tie  of  humanity.  Concerning  this 
matter,  Mr.  Ballou  says,  in  the  brief  memoir  or  outhne 
of  his  hfe  with  which  he  has  furnished  us,  ''My  mother 
"  died  when  I  was  about  two  years  old,  and,  of  course,  I 
"  do  not  remember  her ;  but  from  all  I  can  learn  of  my 
"  mother,  I  am  satisfied  that  she  was  of  a  most  tender  and 
"  kind  disposition.  But  the  treasure  was  gone  before  I 
*' could  realize  its  value."  The  care  and  guidance  of  the 
family  then  fell  upon  the  father,  whose  means  for  provid- 
ing for  his  children's  necessities  were  of  the  most  simple 
and  limited  character.  This  parent,  a  pious  and  devout 
preacher  of  the  Calvinistic  Baptist  denomination,  endeav- 


EARLY  LIFE.  23 

ored,  to  the  best  of  his  abihty,  to  bring  up  his  large 
family  to  fear  and  serve  a  God  who  was  merciful  to  those 
whom  from  all  eternity  he  had  elected  to  be  heirs  of 
eternal  life,  but  who  was  full  of  holy  wrath  towards  the 
greater  portion  of  mankind ;  —  a  faith  which  the  honest 
parent  little  thought,  at  that  time,  his  youngest  son, 
through  the  instrumentality  of  Providence,  would  so 
successfully  battle  against  in  the  spiritual  warfare  of 
after  years. 

In  this  connection,  Mr.  Ballou  says :  — ''  We  were  all 
"  taught,  and  in  our  youth  all  believed,  that  we  were 
"born  into  the  world  wholly  depraved,  and  under  the 
"curse  of  a  law  which  doomed  every  son  and  daughter 
"  of  Adam  to  eternal  woe.  But  at  the  same  time  God 
"had  made  provision  for  a  select  number  of  the  human 
"  family,  whereby  they  would  be  saved  by  the  operations 
"  of  the  divine  Spirit,  which  would  result  in  what  was 
"called  conversion,  sometime  during  the  life  of  those 
"elected.  Those  who  were  not  elected  would  remain 
"without  any  effectual  calling,  die,  and  be  forever 
"miserable.  When  I  was  a  youth  it  was  the  sentiment 
"of  all  Christian  people,  as  far  as  I  knew,  that  not  more 
"  than  one  in  a  thousand  of  the  human  family  would  be 
"saved  from  endless  condemnation. 

"  Youth  were  taught  to  be  moral,  but  that  morality  was 
"  no  security  against  divine  wrath.  The  conversion  of 
"  the  soul  from  the  state  of  nature  in  which  all  men  were 
"  born  into  the  w^orld,  was  the  only  security.  One  of  the 
"worst   things  ever  taught  to  youth  was,  that  in  this 


24  BIOGRAPHY. 

^'  world  there  is  more  enjoyment  in  the  ways  of  vice, 
"  iniquity,  sin,  and  unrighteousness,  than  in  the  ways  of 
"  obedience  to  the  commandments  of  God.  But  we  were 
^'  taught  at  the  same  time  that  the  wicked  were  running 
"  an  awful  risk,  for  should  they  die  without  repentance, 
"  their  everlasting  condemnation  was  sure.  All  the  risk 
"there  was,  lay  in  the  possibility  that  death  might  be 
"  sudden,  and  give  no  time  for  repentance.  But  the  fact 
"  that  there  is  in  the  way  of  strict  morahty,  in  the  path 
*'of  true  religion,  in  the  road  of  righteousness,  all  the 
*' rational  enjoyment  which  our  nature  is  capable  of,  and 
*'  that  any  departure  from  right  is  an  equal  departure  from 
"  true  happiness,  was  not  taught,  to  my  knowledge,  at 
"  that  time.  Nor  did  I  ever  understand  this  great  truth 
"  until  taught  it  by  the  Scriptures,  and  my  study  of  them, 
*'  and  by  my  own  experience." 

It  was  the  conscientious  belief  of  Mr.  Ballou's  father 
that  he  ought  not  to  receive  any  remuneration  whatever, 
either  pecuniary  or  otherwise,  for  his  professional  services ; 
and,  as  he  devoted  himself  with  the  utmost  zeal  and  the 
most  untiring  assiduity  to  his  calling,  and  was  possessed 
of  little  or  no  personal  estate,  his  family  were  all  obliged 
to  labor  very  hard,  merely  to  obtain  a  simple  subsistence. 
But  "even  in  this  was  Heaven  ordinant."  Thus,  from 
his  earliest  childhood,  Mr.  Ballou  was  accustomed  to  toil 
and  labor,  and  this  too  under  the  hardships  of  a  scanty 
supply  of  food  and  clothing.  So  destitute  even  of  the 
most  ordinary  articles  of  raiment,  or  the  means  of  procur- 
ing it,  was  his  father's  family,  in  the  times  of  his  boyhood, 


EARLY   LIFE.  25 

that  many  a  long  week  has  he  passed  without  an  under 
garment  of  any  kind  upon  his  person,  and  without  shoes  or 
stockings  for  his  feet,  even  during  the  inclemencies  of 
winter,  when  his  employment  would  frequently  call  him 
abroad  for  a  large  portion  of  the  day  ! 

Notwithstanding  all  these  privations  and  hardships, 
there  was  no  repining;  the  rich  glow  of  health  was  upon 
his  cheek,  and  a  light  and  happy  heart,  in  spite  of  iron 
fortune,  throbbed  in  his  young  breast.  Though  such  was 
his  early  experience,  and  such  the  vicissitudes  of  his  youth, 
yet  in  subsequent  years  he  was  destined  to  enjoy  freely 
of  the  liberal  bounties  of  Providence,  and,  through  his  own 
frugality  and  industry,  to  be  able  to  give  with  open  hands 
in  charity  to  others.  In  these  years  of  prosperity  and 
honor,  when  revered  and  beloved  by  a  whole  denomina- 
tion, and  when  ranked  among  the  most  powerful  intellects 
of  the  age,  did  he  forget,  or  desire  to  conceal,  the  humble 
character  of  his  youth,  its  hardships  and  trials,  or  the 
companions  of  his  early  days  ?  Let  those  answer  to 
whom  he  has  related  these  things  in  censure  of  false 
pride  and  the  vanity  of  the  world.  Would  it  become  us, 
then,  who  have  seen  and  realized  the  full  bent  of  this 
noble  spirit  in  him,  to  fail  to  speak  clearly  of  these  mat- 
ters ?  We  opine  not,  and  therefore  these  records  will  be 
found  to  be  full  and  complete. 

The  reader  will  probably  agree  with  us,  that  there  is 

something  exceedingly?  striking,  as  well  as  most  affecting, 

in  the  domestic  circumstances  to  which  I  have  alluded. 

The  character  of  Mr.  Ballou's  father  reminds  us  of  one 

3 


26  BIOGRAPHY. 

of  those  stern  old  Camcronians  of  Scotland,  so  well 
described  by  one  of  the  first  writers  of  the  age.  With  but 
little  sympathy  for  his  creed,  ^ye  must  nevertheless  respect 
his  sincerity  ;  nor  can  we  wonder  at  all,  with  his  education 
in  the  faith  which  he  preached,  and  hampered  by  the  illib- 
eral spirit  of  the  period,  which  seemed  to  mildew  every 
generous  prompting  of  the  human  heart,  that  he  clung  to 
it  with  inflexible  tenacity.  But  we  must  contemplate  with 
unqualified  admiration  the  heroic  self-denial,  the  martyr- 
like firmness,  with  which  this  servant  of  the  Lord  pursued 
what  he  believed  to  be  the  path  of  his  duty,  amidst  cir- 
cumstances of  such  extraordinary  deprivation.  Truly,  he 
abandoned  all  to  serve  his  Master.  His  severest  trial 
must  have  been  to  witness  the  privations  of  his  family.  A 
man  can  endure  in  his  own  person  what  it  costs  him 
agony  to  witness  inflicted  on  those  nearer  and  dearer  to 
him  than  life  itself.  The  struggles  of  that  httle  flock, 
bereft  of  a  mother's  tender  care  and  guidance  at  the  very 
time  when  they  most  required  it,  must  l^ave  given  many 
an  anxiously  painful  day  and  night  to  a  father's  heart. 
Yet  we  have  seen  how  they  were  sustained. 

This  is  probably  by  no  means  an  isolated  case  of  trial. 
It  is  but  a  type  of  the  condition  of  many  of  the  early 
settlers  in  a  new  country, — in  short,  a  picture  of  Ameri- 
C9.n  pioneer  life.  It  is  from  such  beginnings,  and  under 
such  circumstances,  that  the  most  useful  and  energetic  of 
our  countrymen  have  sprung.  It  is  not  to  the  lap  of 
luxury  that  we  are  to  look  for  the  source  of  manly 
character  and  manly  virtues.     The  rough  nurture  of  his 


EARLY  LIFE.  27 

early  years  most  unquestionably  fitted  Mr.  Ballou  for  the 
battle  of  life  which  he  was  destined  to  fight.  It  trained 
him  for  the  long  and  severe  journeyings  of  his  apostolic 
missions,  and  it  warmed  his  sympathies  for  the  poor, 
while  it  gave  him  that  indiiference  to  ease  and  luxury 
which  so  largely  conduces  to  true  mental  independence. 
It  taught  him  also  to  rely  under  Providence  upon  himself; 
and  these  early  privations,  while  they  strengthened  and 
indurated  him,  rendered  the  honorably  acquired  compe- 
tence and  comforts  of  his  later  years  in  life  doubly  grateful 
and  acceptable. 

Notwithstanding  this  stern  experience  of  his  tender 
years,  and  in  spite  of  every  hardship,  and  the  severe 
labor  he  was  obliged  to  perform  under  such  unpropitious 
circumstances,  still  he  grew  up  strong,  healthy  and 
vigorous,  both  in  mind  and  body,  possessing  a  form  and 
face  of  manly  beauty,  with  expression  and  intelligence 
reflected  in  every  feature.  In  stature  he  grew  to  be 
six  feet  high,  his  figure  very  erect,  with  finely  formed 
limbs,  and  a  bright,  clear  blue  eye.  His  whole  appear- 
ance indicated  good  health  even  to  advanced  old  age,  his 
constitution  being  naturally  excellent,  and  his  frugal  and 
temperate  habits  seconding  the  kindly  purpose  of  nature. 
Heaven  had  marked  him  for  its  servant,  and  breathed 
into  his  soul  a  spirit  of  energy  and  unflinching  persever- 
ance, that  no  hardship  could  quench  or  diminish.  Christ 
chose  his  disciples  from  among  the  lowly  fishermen  of 
Galilee ;  God  herein  took  an  humble  but  faithful  follower 
from  a  cottage  amidst  the  mountains. 


28  BIOGRAPHY. 

Although  descended  from  a  devout  and  eloquent 
preacher  of  the  Scriptures,  the  reader  will  at  once  observe 
that  Mr.  Ballou  was  not  indebted  in  the  least  particular 
for  the  future  lustre  of  his  reputation  as  a  powerful  and 
original  thinker,  writer  and  teacher  of  the  gospel,  to  his 
birth,  or  early  condition  in  life,  but  that,  on  the  contrary,  he 
was  literally  a  self-made  man,  owing  his  position  strictly  to 
individual  merit  alone.  Enjoying  none  of  the  educational 
advantages  resulting  from  wealth,  or  even  from  a  simple 
competency,  yet  he  steadily  rose  above  every  impending 
obstacle  in  his  path,  to  the  truly  enviable  position  which 
he  attained  in  the  hearts  of  thousands  upon  thousands  who 
were  led  through  his  teachings,  both  orally  and  through  the 
productions  of  his  prolific  pen,  to  see  their  God  and  Father 
as  he  is  in  all  harmony  and  beauty.  Thus  it  is  that  pov- 
erty of  condition  and  wealth  of  intellect  go  often  hand  in 
hand. 

''  Where,  in  modern  history,"  asks  Rev.  A.  R.  Abbott, 
in  his  late  eulogy  upon  Mr.  Ballou,  "  can  another 
''  instance  be  found  of  a  man  laboring  under  such  disad- 
"  vantages,  in  the  face  of  such  opposition,  and  yet  perform- 
"  ing  such  a  work  ?  Those  Avho  have  heretofore  accom- 
"plished  much  in  that  field,  have  had  all  the  advantages 
''  which  the  most  thorough  culture  of  their  times  could 
"give.  Like  the  giant  of  Gath,  they  have  taken  the 
"field  encased  in  polished  armor;  he,  like  the  stripling 
"  of  Bethlehem,  came  to  the  contest  with  only  the  shep- 
"  herd's  sling  and  the  smooth  stones  from  the  brook." 

As  no  general  rule  can  be  adduced  for  the  formation 


EARLY  LIFE.  29 

of  human  character,  so  long  as  the  power  of  early  associa- 
tion, the  influence  of  education  and  example,  each  and 
severally  produce  in  different  individuals  exactly  opposite 
effects,  so  no  general  rule  can  be  applied  as  to  the  result 
of  certain  accessory  circumstances.  Therefore  we  deduce 
no  result  from  the  mere  fact  of  Mr.  Ballou's  father 
having  been  a  professed  minister  upon  the  character  of 
his  son,  having  no  belief  that  genius  is  hereditary,  or  that 
paternal  authority  can  influence  its  natural  course. 
Indeed,  the  reader  is  doubtless  well  aware  that  the  oppo- 
sition of  a  father  to  the  natural  bent  of  his  child,  rarely 
fails  more  strongly  to  develop  the  original  taste  and  pur- 
pose, generally  arousing  in  the  end  a  spirit  of  resistance, 
that  is  pretty  sure  to  strengthen  by  opposition. 

Before  the  age  of  sixteen,  by  the  utmost  perseverance, 
ingenuity,  and  industry,  the  subject  of  this  biography 
had  learned  to  read  and  write  with  facility,  almost 
entirely  by  his  own  unaided  exertions,  or  with  little 
assistance  of  any  kind ;  for  had  there  been  a  school  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Richmond,  which  was  not  the  case,  he 
could  have  found  no  time  to  attend  it,  being  ever  labori- 
ously engaged  from  morning  until  night.  He  learned  to 
form  the  letters  of  the  alphabet  in  the  following  ingenious 
and  original  manner,  which  he  related  to  us  when  a  mere 
child,  we  were  making  the  first  advances  in  the  use  of  the 
pen.  After  not  a  little  thought  and  sober  calculation  as 
to  how  he  should  accomplish  his  purpose,  —  for  pen,  ink 
and  paper  were  luxuries  his  father's  means  could  not 
command,  —  for  paper  he  substituted  thin  pieces  of  birch 
3* 


30  BIOGRAPHY. 

bark,  neatly  prepared  for  the  purpose  by  his  own  hands, 
and  for  pen  and  ink  he  used  coals  taken  from  the  fire. 
With  these  rude  materials,  after  the  labors  of  the  day 
were  over,  seated  on  the  floor,  by  the  light  of  the  fire, — 
for  candles  were  too  expensive  to  be  afforded  in  the  frugal 
household  of  his  father, —  he  taught  himself  to  write.  A 
student,  actuated  by  such  resolution  and  determination 
of  purpose,  must  soon  become  a  proficient,  in  defiance  of 
every  minor  obstacle ;  and  thus  he  speedily  improved  with 
these  humble  means. 

Some  further  idea  of  the  limited  means  of  his  father's 
family,  and  the  extraordinary  disadvantages  under  which 
his  early  progress  was  made,  may  be  gathered  from  the 
fact,  that  the  only  books  the  house  contained,  or  in  fact 
that  the  family  had  access  to  at  all,  were  a  Bible,  an  old 
dictionary,  and  a  well-thumbed  pamphlet  of  the  scriptural 
story  of  the  tower  of  Babel.  A  newspaper  in  the  days  of 
which  we  write,  in  the  town  of  Richmond,  would  have 
been  considered  a  most  rare  curiosity.  Perhaps  this  very 
dearth  of  literary  material  led  Mr.  Ballou  to  be  the  more 
intimate  with  that  volume 

*'  Within  whose  sacred  pages  lies 
The  mystery  of  mysteries," 

with  which  alone  no  student  can  be  poor,  without  which 
the  largest  library  is  incomplete.  It  has  been  remarked 
of  the  sacred  volume,  that,  as  the  face  of  nature  is 
bedecked  with  colors  and  adornreents  to  render  it  agree- 
able to  the  senses,  so  its  pages  are  filled  with  that  luxury 


EAELY   LIFE.  SI 

of  poetry  and  language  and  incident  which  commends  it 
to  every  imagination.  Even  the  half-unbelieving  Byron 
confessed  that  nothing  in  literature  was  finer  than  the 
poetry  of  the  Old  Testament.  Thus  the  word,  like  the 
bow  of  promise,  is  gilded  with  the  fairest  hues.  The 
solemn  march  of  historical  narration,  the  sublime  hymns 
of  triumph,  praise  and  rejoicing,  the  records  of  battles 
and  heroic  deeds,  the  familiar  narrative,  the  interesting 
parable,  the  pithy  proverb,  the  terse  and  vigorous  delin- 
eation of  character,  the  sublime  visions  of  inspired 
prophecy,  are  all  there.  Of  almost  every  style  of  literary 
composition  there  is  an  example,  captivating  alike  to  the 
humblest  reader  and  the  most  cultivated  critic.  It  is  the 
beo-innincr  and  the  end  of  learninof.  In  the  midst  of  the 
sublimest  flights  of  human  genius,  amid  the  most  burning 
words  of  modern  eloquence,  introduce  a  passage  of  scrip- 
ture, and  how  poor  will  seem  the  language  and  the 
thoughts  by  which  it  is  surrounded  ! 

Need  we  count  that  house  poor  in  literary  possessions 
which  contains  a  Bible  ? 

If  it  be  true  that  there  are  certain  ennobling  qualities, 
to  produce  which  a  soil  of  privation  and  poverty  is 
requisite,  the  reader  is  doubtless  already  prepared  to 
allow  that  ^Ir.  Ballon  was  not  deficient  in  the  necessary 
experience  for  their  possession.  A  lack  of  those  advan- 
tages which  are  enjoyed  in  the  "schools  of  human  learn- 
ing "  did  not  lead  him  in  the  least  to  undervalue  the 
humble  opportunities  for  acquiring  mental  discipline  and 
useful  information  that  every -day  life  graciously  aflfords 


82  BIOGRAPHY. 

to  all.  But  the  clear,  free  river  of  knowledge  and  un- 
bounded information,  that  now  pours  out  its  wealth  at  the 
feet  of  the  people,  was  then  undiscovered.  It  has  been 
left  to  these  more  modern  and  favored  times  for  inven- 
tions in  the  arts  to  so  revolutionize  the  means  of  dissemi- 
nating knowledge,  as  to  lay  the  wealth  of  wisdom  at  the 
poor  man's  door. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  left  the  paternal  roof  for  the 
first  time,  and  made  a  journey  on  foot  to  Guildford,  Vt,  a 
distance  of  about  forty  miles  from  Richmond.  Here  he 
visited  an  elder  brother,  and,  after  working  with  him  upon 
his  farm  through  the  season,  returned  to  his  father's 
house  again  in  the  fall.  About  one  year  from  the  time 
of  his  visit  to  Guildford,  he  visited  another  brother  who 
resided  in  Putney,  Yt.,  where  he  also  labored  for  a  sea- 
son upon  the  farm,  employing  all  his  leisure  moments  to 
the  improvement  of  such  simple  means  as  were  within  his 
power  to  command,  aided  by  the  greater  experience  and 
better  mental  cultivation  of  his  brother.  He  remained 
through  that  season  only  at  Putney,  however,  and 
returned  again  in  the  fall  of  the  year  to  Richmond. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  w^ent  to  Smithfield,  R.  I., 
where  many  of  his  relations,  on  the  paternal  side,  were 
settled.  Here  also  he  devoted  himself  to  constant  labor 
during  the  day,  and  to  the  eager  perusal  of  any  and  all 
books  to  which  he  could  obtain  access,  during  the  even- 
ings and  a  large  portion  of  the  nights.  He  remained  in 
Smithfield  but  about  six  months,  again  returning  to  the 
place  of  his  nativity.     In  making  these  changes  he  was 


EARLY   LIFE.  33 

almost  solelj  actuated  bj  a  desire  for  instruction  and 
general  information,  and  this  being  his  great  aim.  we 
have  seen  how  much  he  improved  every  available  means 
to  consummate  it,  and  thus  his  exploring  and  impressible 
mind  was  not  a  little  enriched.  The  time  passed  at  home 
during  the  intermediate  and  subsequent  periods  to  those 
referred  to,  was  employed  by  him  upon  his  father's  farm, 
in  the  tilling  of  the  soil,  and  in  constant  efforts  to  im- 
prove his  mind.  Those  who  were  older  than  himself 
were  earnestly  questioned  for  their  experience.  Those 
who  had  enjoyed  any  educational  advantages  were 
eagerly  sought  after,  and  regarded  by  him  as  favored 
beings,  and  their  conversation  listened  to  with  avidity. 

The  improvement  and  development  of  a  mind  in  this 
condition,  a  healthy  mind  in  a  healthy  body,  is  exceedingly 
rapid.     It  is  then 

"  Wax  to  receive,  and  marble  to  retain." 

It  seizes  eagerly  on  all  the  food  placed  before  it,  and 
rapidly  digests  every  acquisition.  The  condition  of  a 
mind  with  every  appliance  for  improvement  at  hand,  is 
not  unlike  that  of  a  person  with  every  variety  and  quality 
of  food  set  before  him  for  the  gratification  of  a  bodily 
appetite.  Repletion,  satiety,  and  indigestion,  follow  in  one 
case  precisely  as  in  the  other.  Many  of  our  modern  stu- 
dents are  crammed  and  gorged  with  study.  The  mental 
appetite  is  over-indulged  ;  and  an  attempt  to  master  too 
much  is  doubtless  the  besetting  literary  sin  of  the  present 
day.     The  cases  of  mental  dyspepsia  are  as  common  as 


34  BIOCRAPnY. 

those  of  the  body.  Sound  scholarship  consists  not  so  much 
in  the  quantity  of  material  consumed,  as  in  the  quantity 
properly  prepared  for  intellectual  nurture.  A  man  may 
possess  a  fund  of  encyclopedic  knowledge,  and  yet  his 
mental  powers  may  he  weakened  by  the  very  process  of 
grasping  so  many  details.  He  may  be  good  authority  to 
appeal  to,  but  will  hardly  prove  a  sound  thinker  or  a 
good  logician.  "Not  many,  but  good,  books,"  was  the 
golden  advice  of  a  wise  man  on  the  formation  of  a  library. 
Self-made  men,  like  Mr.  Ballou,  are  apt  to  make  judi- 
cious selections  in  culling  the  great  field  of  knowledge, 
while  those  who  pass  through  a  regular,  systematic, 
academic  training,  are  often  forced  to  fill  their  minds 
Avith  a  mass  of  matter  for  which  they  have  no  use, 
and  to  waste  much  time  in  questionable  acquirements, 
simply  because  in  so  doing  they  comply  with  the  requisi- 
tions of  a  prescribed  formula. 

It  was  customary  for  the  young  men  of  all  classes  in 
those  days  to  pursue  athletic  exercises,  such  as  pitching 
the  bar,  leaping,  wrestling,  and  the  like,  these  being 
regarded  as  the  surest  tests  of  bodily  strength.  Possess- 
ing a  powerful  and  active  frame,  he  was  ever  the  victor 
in  those  sports  ;  and  from  his  marked  success  among  his 
comrades  in  this  respect,  and  his  fair  and  impartial  dis- 
position, he  was  universally  the  umpire  in  all  disputes 
growing  out  of  these  and  like  contests  for  superiority 
that  arose  between  one  and  another.  In  the  matter  of 
his  physical  strength,  particularly  when  young,  he  ever 
cherished  a  laudable  degree  of  pride,  and  delighted  in 


EARLY   LIFE.  86 

accomplishing  a  large  amount  of  work  within  the  hours 
devoted  to  labor. 

In  this  connection,  Mr.  Ballou  says :  —  "I  have  the 
"  comfort,  even  in  my  old  age,  of  remembering  that  I  was 
"  deemed  in  our  family  circle  to  be  a  good  child,  and 
''marked  for  giving  evidence  of  being  less  averse  to 
"  necessary  labor  than  others.  Though  this  contributed 
"  somewhat  to  make  me  proud,  and  to  think  well  of  my- 
"self,  in  other  respects  it  was  of  some  advantage  to  me 
"to  be  held  in  esteem  by  my  mates,  who  ever  showed 
"  that  they  had  a  peculiar  regard  for  me." 

Mr.  Ballou  undoubtedly  owed  the  vigorous  health 
"which  carried  him  through  the  exertions  of  a  life  pro- 
tracted beyond  the  allotted  span,  to  the  athletic  training 
of  his  youth,  in  his  labors  and  in  his  sports.  One  of  the 
besetting  sins  of  the  present  mode  of  education  is  the 
almost  total  neglect  of  physical  training,  and  the  forcing 
system  applied  to  the  mind  at  the  expense  of  the  body. 
We  hear  much  about  sanitary  reform  and  the  necessity 
of  exercise;  we* write  and  read  voluminous  treatises  on 
the  best  mode  of  preserving  bodily  health,  and  almost  all 
of  us  can  talk  learnedly  upon  the  subject,  and  yet  in 
practice  we  set  at  naught  all  our  elaborate  theories.  How 
rare  it  is  to  see  a  vigorous,  ruddy-cheeked  student.  The 
ancients  were  wiser  than  ourselves  in  this  respect,  for 
with  them  mental  and  physical  training  went  hand  in 
hand.  A  popular  form  of  instruction  was  that  given 
orally  in  the  open  air ;  and  thus,  during  the  very  hours 
of  study,  the  frame  was  submitted  to  the  healthy  influ- 


86t  BIOGRAPHY. 

ence  of  pure  air.  The  subject  of  these  memoirs  often 
referred  to  the  pale  cheek,  stooping  form,  and  defective 
vision  which  are  characteristics  of  the  American  student, 
and  he  never  failed  to  inculcate  on  all  proper  occasions 
the  preservation  of  health  as  a  high  moral  duty. 

While  of  tender  age,  and  in  each  successive  year,  he 
evinced  an  ardent  and  constantly  increasing  desire  for 
scriptural  knowledge ;  and  the  earliest  dawnings  of  his 
young  mind  among  his  brethren  were  of  a  character  that 
gave  promise  of  the  Christian  grace  and  excellence  to 
which  he  attained  in  after  years.  It  is  interesting  and 
curious  to  trace  the  unconscious,  and,  so  to  speak,  the 
providential  adaptation  of  the  early  life  to  the  future 
calling  of  riper  experience.  Mr.  Ballou  says,  in  relation 
to  this  subject :  —  "I  was  remarkably  inquisitive,  even 
"when  a  mere  boy,  about  doctrines.  I  was  fond  of 
"  reasoning  on  doctrinal  points,  studied  and  talked  much 
''  upon  the  subject  of  free  will  and  necessity.  I  w^ell 
"remember  to  have  surprised  my  honored  father  with 
"  such  a  question  as  the  following  :  '  Sujtpose  I  had  the 
"  skill  and  power  out  of  an  inanimate  substance  to  make 
"  an  animate,  and  should  make  one,  at  the  same  time 
"  knowing  that  this  creature  of  mine  would  suffer  ever- 
"  lasting  misery, —  would  my  act  of  creating  this  creature 
"be  an  act  of  goodness?'  The  question  troubled  my 
"  father,  and  I  let  it  pass  without  an  answer." 

These  frequent  questions  had  the  effect  of  causing  the 
father  much  uneasiness  of  mind,  and  he  used  often  to 
express  great  solicitude  and  fear  for  the  present  and 


EARLY   LIFE.  37 

future  welfare  of  his  son.  Many  were  his  endeavors  to 
convince  Hosea  of  the  dangerous  character  of  the  senti- 
ments that  seemed  to  be  springing  up  spontaneously  in 
his  heart,  but  the  unprofitable  nature  of  these  efibrts  soon 
became  apparent,  from  the  fact  that  the  simple,  natural 
arguments  of  the  son  confounded  the  father.  Boy  as  he 
was,  he  yet  would  not  take  the  assertions  of  faith  for 
argument,  but  insisted  upon  reason,  and  understanding  at 
all  times  the  "  root  of  the  matter." 

To  the  honor  of  this  truly  pious  and  devout  parent,  it 
should  be  remembered,  however,  that  these  controversies 
never  elicited  an  unchristian  spirit,  or  the  least  anger 
towards  his  child.  This  was  a  natural  and  beautiful 
characteristic  of  his  father's  disposition. 
4 


CHAPTER    IV. 

BECOMES   A   PROFESSOR   OF   RELIGION. 

At  the  age  of  nineteen,  there  being  what  was  termed  a 
reformation  in  the  town  of  Richmond,  Mr.  Ballou  was 
induced,  believing  it  to  be  his  duty,  to  become  a  professor 
of  rehgion,  and  accordingly  at  that  time  he  joined  the 
Baptist  church,  of  which  his  father  was  pastor,  in  the 
month  of  January,  1789.  It  is  very  evident  that  he  was 
partly  induced  to  this  circumstance  by  the  bearing  of 
external  circumstances  and  the  immediate  associations 
about  him,  such  as  observing  the  conduct  of  others  of 
his  own  age,  w^ho  at  that  time  made  a  formal  and  public 
profession  of  faith,  and  also  by  what  he  knew  very  well 
to  be  his  father's  earnest  desire.  It  seems,  therefore,  that 
these  matters,  rather  than  any  earnest  mental  conviction 
of  faith,  were  instrumental  in  leading  him  to  join  the 
church  as  he  did,  —  inasmuch  as  none  of  those  objections 
which  he  had  often  made  to  his  father's  belief,  had  yet 
been  cleared  up  to  his  mind. 

But  this  joining  of  the  church  was  plainly  of  immediate 


BECOMES   A   PROFESSOR    OF   RELIGION.  39 

advantage  to  him,  as  it  led  him  to  think  still  more  seri- 
ously and  earnestly  upon  the  subject  of  religion;  but, 
owing  to  early  prejudices,  and  his  limited  means  of 
acquiring  information,  or  of  possessing  himself  of  any 
books  upon  such  subjects  as  would  have  been  useful  to 
him,  his  progress  towards  the  light  of  truth  was  but  slow. 
Mr.  Ballou  says,  in  relation  to  this  conversion  :  —  "I  was 
"  much  troubled  in  my  mind  because  I  thought  I  did  not 
''  stand  in  such  fear  of  the  divine  wrath  as  I  ought  to  do, 
''  or  as  others  had  done  before  they  found  acceptance  with 
"  God.  I  well  remember  that  as  I  was  returning  home 
''  from  a  conference  meeting,  one  evening,  when  about  a 
''quarter  of  a  mile  from  home,  being  alone,  I  stopped 
"  under  a  large  tree,  and,  falling  on  my  knees,  prayed  as 
''  well  as  I  could  for  the  favor  I  sought."  His  connec- 
tion with  his  father's  church,  though  it  continued  but  a 
short  period  comparatively,  seems  to  have  made  no 
slight  impression  upon  his  mind  and  feelings,  for  he  says : 
—  "I  have  always  felt  towards  this  people  (the  Baptist 
"  denomination)  as  one  feels  towards  his  family,  and 
"though  the  religion  of  Christ  consists  in  love  to  all 
"men,  I  have  a  peculiar  feeling  for  the  Baptists." 

In  his  researches  and  reading  concerning  the  creed  that 
he  had  now  publicly  professed,  he  found  it  impossible  to 
bring  his  heart  to  conform  to  the  doctrine  of  eternal  repro- 
bation, and  this  in  itself,  as  he  afterwards  remarked,  was 
an  evidence  of  no  inconsiderable  importance,  to  his  mind, 
that  it  could  not  be  true ;  for  why  should  his  Heavenly 
Father  have  implanted  in  his  heart  an  earnest  desire  for 


40  BIOGRAPHY. 

the  salvation  of  all  mankind,  unless  that  desire  was  sus- 
ceptible of  gratification,  as  is  every  appetite,  mental  or 
physical,  with  Avhich  we  are  endowed  by  nature  ?  Such 
thoughts  caused  him  much  and  incessant  anxiety  of  mind, 
because  the  very  fact  of  his  entertaining  them,  if  the  doc- 
trine he  had  professed  was  true,  endangered  his  eternal 
salvation ;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  if  this  creed  was  not 
that  taught  by  God's  revealed  word,  then  he  was  need- 
lessly suffering,  to  a  degree  that  greatly  depressed  him. 

No  wonder  that  this  double  incentive  led  him  to  search 
the  Scriptures  with  the  utmost  care  and  attention,  and  to 
weigh  and  decide  in  his  own  mind  the  relation  that  one 
portion  bears  to  another,  and  finally,  with  the  help  of 
Heaven,  to  make  up  his  mind  as  to  the  true  spirit  and 
doctrine  of  the  whole.  The  reader  can  easily  imagine  the 
fervent  prayers  he  uttered,  the  sleepless  nights  he  passed, 
and  the  arduous  study  he  performed,  in  his  search  for  the 
light  of  truth.  After  all  this  anxious  solicitude,  this 
solitary  mental  struggle,  this  prayerful  communication 
with  Heaven,  he  at  length  declared  himself  a  believer  in 
the  final  salvation  of  the  whole  human  family. 

Great  was  the  surprise,  disappointment,  and  chagrin  of 
his  father  and  friends  generally.  Being  looked  up  to  by 
the  young  men  of  his  own  age  as  a  sort  of  leader  in  their 
secular  plans  and  games,  the  influence  of  his  example  was 
greatly  feared  as  operating  upon  the  younger  portion  of 
the  church ;  and  as  his  joining  it  had  been  the  occasion  of 
much  rejoicing  at  the  time,  so  his  declaration  of  unbelief 
in  its  faith  was  the  cause  of  a  proportionate  degree  of  sor- 


BECOMES  A   PROFESSOR   OF   RELIGION.  41 

row.  His  new  declaration  was  at  once  pronounced  to  be 
downright  heresy,  and  he  was  accordingly  excommuni- 
cated from  his  father's  church,  the  document  with  which 
he  was  honored  on  the  occasion  carefully  stating  that 
nothing  was  found  against  him,  but  that  he  believed  in 
the  doctrine  that  God  would  finally  save  all  men. 

In  relation  to  this  subject,  Mr.  Ballou  says :  —  "  Above 
"  all  else,  my  theological  bias  of  mind  predominated,  and 
"  engrossed  most  of  my  attention.  As  I  had  formerly 
"  been  in  the  habit,  while  with  the  Baptists,  of  speaking 
"  in  their  meetings,  and  of  offering  up  prayer  at  conference 
"  meetings,  I  now  sometimes  spoke  my  sentiments  at 
"  meetings  in  my  brother's  house.  The  church  of  which 
"  I  was  still  a  member  thought  it  a  duty  to  call  me  to 
*'  answer  for  the  course  I  had  taken,  and  I  was  called 
*'  upon  to  meet  the  accusation  of  believing  in  the  salvation 
*'  of  all  men.  I  attended,  but  did  not  feel  it  my  duty  to 
"  deny  the  charge,  or  to  renounce  my  belief  I  was 
''  therefore  excommunicated  from  the  church,  my  letter 
"  of  excommunication  carefully  stating  that  no  fault  was 
*'  found  in  me,  my  belief  in  the  salvation  of  all  men 
*'  excepted.  I  shall  ever  remember  the  tears  which  I 
*'  shed  on  this  solemn  occasion." 

It  was  about  this  period  that  Mr.  Ballou,  ever  in  search 
of  improvement,  possessed  himself  of  some  book  of  a 
liberal  religious  character  as  to  the  sentiments  it  incul- 
cated, when  his  father,  chancing  to  see  him  reading  it, 
told  him  decidedly  that  he  would  not  have  Universalist 
books  in  his  house.  Promptly  acquiescing,  as  he  always 
4* 


41  BIOGRAPHY. 

did,  in  his  father's  directions,  a  few  days  subsequent,  the 
parent,  on  returning  home,  found  Hosea  reading  a  book 
beside  the  wood-pile,  out  of  doors.  "  What  book  are  you 
reading  there?"  he  asked.  ''A  Universalist  book," 
rephed  the  son,  respectfully.  An  expression  of  dissatis- 
faction escaped  the  father,  as  he  turned  away  and  entered 
the  house.  Watching  until  his  son  had  placed  the  book 
in  the  wood-pile,  and  left  the  spot,  the  parent  resolved  to 
possess  himself  of  it,  and  perhaps  even  destroy  it.  But, 
lo !  when  he  opened  it,  he  found  it  was  the  Bible. 

In  an  article  written  many  years  subsequent,  relative 
to  his  conversion  to  the  faith  of  God's  impartial  grace, 
Mr.  Ballou  says:  —  ''I  found,  when  conversing  upon  the 
''  subject,  that  my  Calvinistic  tenets  could  be  made  either 
"  to  result  in  universal  salvation,  or  to  compel  me  to 
*'  acknowledge  the  partiality  of  the  divine  favor.  This 
^'  gave  me  no  small  inquietude  of  mind,  as  I  waS  unable 
"  to  derive  satisfaction  from  sentiments  which  I  could  not 
''  defend.  That  which  more  than  anything  else  contri- 
"  buted  to  turn  my  thoughts  seriously  towards  the  belief 
"  of  Universalism,  was  the  ardent  desire  with  which  I 
"  found  myself  exercised  that  sinners  might  be  brought 
''  to  repentance  and  salvation.  I  found  it  utterly  impossi- 
'-  ble  to  bring  my  feelings  to  consent  to  the  doctrine  of 
''  eternal  reprobation,  and  I  was  compelled  either  to  allow 
"  that  such  feelings  were  sinful,  or  that  my  Heavenly 
"  Father,  in  giving  them  to  me,  had  implanted  an  evidence 
"  in  favor  of  the  salvation  of  all  men,  the  force  of  which  I 
"  found  no  means  to  resist." 


BECOMES   A   PROFESSOR   OF   RELIGION.  43 

As  to  Mr.  Ballou's  having  been  brought  up  in  the  faith 
of  Calvinism,  it  was  not  without  its  benefits  upon  his  after 
life,  for  it  gave  to  him  a  most  unHmited  and  perfect 
knowledge  of  the  various  items  of  faith  professed  by  that 
sect,  as  well  as  the  common  tenets  of  all  those  who  believe 
in  the  partial  salvation  only  of  the  great  human  family. 
Owing  to  an  early  desire  to  understand  the  doctrine  of 
Christianity  aright,  while  yet  of  tender  age  he  became 
familiar  with  the  arguments  used  in  support  of  predesti- 
nation, election,  reprobation,  the  fall  of  man,  the  penal 
suffering  of  Christ  for  the  elect,  and  many  other  items  of 
creed  relating  to  the  moral  agency  of  man.  Concerning 
this  subject,  Mr.  Ballou  says  :  —  "  As  to  the  doctrine  of 
"  Calvinism,  in  which  my  honored  father  was  a  believer, 
"  and  which  doctrine  he  preached  until  nearly  the  end  of 
"  his  public  labors,  my  acquaintance  with  its  various 
"  tenets,  while  quite  a  youth,  was  by  no  means  very  lim- 
"  ited,  owing  to  the  pious  endeavors  of  a  parent  whose 
"  affection  for  his  children  rendered  him  extremely 
"  anxious  for  their  spiritual  welfare,  and  to  an  early 
"  desire  of  my  own  to  understand  the  doctrine  of  Chris- 
"  tianity  correctly."  It  was  necessary  that  he  should 
understand  these  matters  as  he  did,  and  as  he  could  only 
do,  by  serving  an  apprenticeship  to  them,  so  to  speak,  in 
order  the  better  to  enable  him  to  refute  them  in  after 
years,  when  he  should  be  arrayed  in  a  moral  conflict 
against  them.  Thus  the  pious  and  well-meant  endeavors 
of  his  parent  to  inculcate  the  principles  of  his  own  faith 
in  the  mind  of  his  child  were  but  a  part  of  the  well 


44  BIOGRAPHY. 

ordained  purpose  of  the  Almighty,  in  raising  up  an  able 
champion  for  the  gospel  of  truth. 

Mr.  Ballou  says,  referring  to  the  period  just  previous 
to  his  declaration  of  faith  and  consequent  excommunica- 
tion :  —  "  In  the  spring  after  I  joined  the  church  in  Rich- 
'  mond,  I  went,  with  my  brother  Stephen  and  our  cousin 
'  Jeremiah  Harris,  to  the  town  of  Westfield,  in  New 
'  York.  This  town  is  now  called  Harford.  Here  we 
'  labored  together  during  that  season,  attending  Elder 
'  Brown's  meeting.  He  was  of  the  Baptist  order.  Even 
'  before  I  left  home  my  mind  had  become  somewhat 
'  shaken  in  regard  to  the  doctrine  of  endless  punishment. 
'  I  found  it  utterly  out  of  my  power  to  reconcile  it  with 
'  what  all  Christians  professed  of  love  to  the  unconverted ; 
'  nor  could  I  reconcile  it  with  many  plain  declarations  of 
'  Scripture ;  but  I  was  by  no  means  persuaded  that  sal- 
'  vation  was  for  all  men.  My  brother,  knowing  that  I 
'  had  trials  of  mind  on  this  great  subject,  expressed  a 
'  desire  that  I  should  have  a  conversation  with  Elder 
'  Brown  relative  to  it,  hoping  thereby  that  my  doubts 
'  would  be  removed.  A  conference  was  therefore  ap- 
'  pointed,  at  the  house  of  one  of  the  elder's  deacons. 
'  There  were  a  number  present,  and  the  elder  requested 
'  me  to  name  some  passage  of  Scripture  which  to  mj 
'  mind  favored  universal  salvation ;  expressing  at  the 
'  same  time  perfect  confidence  that  he  should  be  able  to 
'  show  me  that  the  passage  did  by  no  means  favor  such 
'  doctrine.  I  opened  to  the  fifth  chapter  of  the  Epistle 
'  to  the  Romans,  and  read  the  eighteenth  verse,  as  fol- 


BECOMES  A  PROFESSOR  OF  RELIGION.  45 

'  lows  :  —  '  Therefore,  as  by  the  offence  of  one  judgment 
'  came  upon  all  men  to  condemnation ;  even  so  by  the 
'  righteousness  of  one  the  free  gift  came  upon  all  men 
'  unto  justification  of  life.'  The  elder  did  not  appear  to 
'  be  at  all  acquainted  with  the  text,  for,  instead  of  direct- 
'  ing  his  remarks  to  it,  he  seemed  to  wander  far  off.  and 
'  to  talk  very  loud,  and  nothing  to  the  subject.  When 
'  he  paused,  I  again  read  the  text,  and  asked  the  elder  if 
^  the  same  all  men  mentioned  in  the  first  part  of  the  text, 
'  were  not  mentioned  in  the  last  ?  This  sim^ple  question 
^  seemed  to  embarrass  his  mind ;  he  was  evidently  out  of 
'  humor,  and  manifested  a  bitter  spirit,  which  being  dis- 
'  covered  by  my  brother,  caused  him  to  desire  that  the 
'  conversation  should  close,  and  it  did.  This  circum- 
'  stance  tended  rather  to  strengthen  my  mind  in  favor  of 
'  universal  and  impartial  grace,  and  to  induce  a  more 
'  thorough  examination  of  the  Scriptures  and  the  subject. 
'  I  had  no  other  book  than  the  Bible,  and  all  my  early 
'  education  lay  like  a  broad  sheet  to  cover  that  book  from 
'  my  vision.  But  one  or  two  passages  were  found,  and 
'  from  them  I  found  my  way  to  others  which  seemed  to 
'  agree  with  the  first,  and  it  was  not  long  before  I  was 
*  astonished  at  my  ignorance  of  the  Scriptures.  The 
'  Bible  was  no  longer  the  book  it  had  been  to  me.  I 
'  became  entirely  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the  doctrine 
'  of  Universalism." 

It  was  therefore  in  the  town  of  Westfield,  N.  Y.,  that 
Mr.  Ballou  came  fully  to  believe  in  the  final  salvation  of 
all  mankind.     We  do  not  mean  to  be  understood  that  he 


46-  BIOGRAPHY. 

came  at  once  to  the  full  belief  of  the  doctrine  that  he 
afterwards  taught,  but  that  he  made  at  this  time  the 
earliest  and  most  important  advance  towards  the  belief 
which  he  subsequently  declared,  and  which  has  since 
become  the  creed  of  nine-tenths  of  the  Universalist 
denomination.  At  this  period  he  believed  the  doctrine, 
as  he  says  he  preached  it  not  many  months  afterwards, 
being  the  fall  before  he  was  twenty-one,  "  when  I  began 
"  to  speak  in  public,"  he  says,  "  believing  and  preaching 
"  universal  salvation,  on  the  Calvinistic  principles  of 
"atonement  and  imputed  righteousness."  The  few  Uni- 
versalists  that  then  existed,  having  obtained  proof,  to 
their  satisfaction,  that  none  of  the  human  family  would 
suffer  endless  punishment,  thought  they  had  sufficient 
cause  for  rejoicing,  and  seemed  to  be  content  to  rest  their 
discoveries  there.  Further  pi^ogi^ess  upon  this  subject 
was  left  for  Mr.  Ballou  to  make  and  promulgate,  as  by 
careful  and  unaided  research  he  should  come  more  fully 
to  understand  this  most  important  subject. 

"  At  this  time,"  he  writes  in  his  manuscript  before  us, 
"  fully  realizing  that  the  basis  of  all  spiritual  knowledge 
"  was  the  Bible,  that  blessed  book  was  ever  with  me,  and 
"  not  one  moment  in  which  I  was  freed  from  necessary 
"  labor  was  occupied  save  in  its  perusal.  I  learned  to 
"  love  it,  to  consult  its  pages  with  reverence,  and  prayer- 
"  fully,  that  I  might  rightly  interpret  its  true  meaning. 
"  I  became  very  familiar  with  the  various  important  pas- 
"  sages,  which  frequently  gave  me  great  advantage  in 
"  controversy,  at  that  time,  on  points  of  faith;  for  it  was 


BECOMES   A   PROFESSOR   OF   RELIGION.  47 

"the  practice  of  those  days  to  blindly  give  credence  to 
"such  faith  as  was  taught  from  the  pulpit,  and,  leaving 
"the  minister  to  reason  for  the  whole  congregation,  they 
"themselves  rarely  consulted  the  holy  text,  in  a  spirit  of 
"inquiry,  though  they  deemed  themselves  most  devout 
"and  reasonable  Christians.  By  individual  and  careful 
"explorations,  I  found  my  Bible  was  able  to  teach  me 
"all  I  desired  to  know,  and  that,  at  the  outset,  I  had 
"been  miserably  deceived  in  my  early  impressions  of 
"  God's  word,  by  not  examining  and  weighing  the  subject 
"matter  of  divine  revelation  for  myself  But  such  is 
"the  force  of  habit  that  those  early  impressions  were  at 
"  first  constantly  recurring  to  my  mind,  and  acting  as 
"  stumbling  blocks  in  the  way  of  my  onward  progress." 

It  is  often  said  that  Rev.  John  Murray  was  an  earlier 
preacher  than  the  subject  of  this  biography ;  that  he  is 
called  the  father  of  Universalism  in  America ;  and  that 
Mr.  Ballou  received  his  opinions  direct  from  him.  But 
those  persons  who  say  thus,  or  entertain  themselves  such 
an  idea,  are  mistaken ;  indeed,  as  often  as  this  remark  is 
made,  it  must  always  be  by  those  who  have  thought  lit- 
tle, and  known  less,  of  the  history  of  Universalism.  No 
one  venerates  the  memory  of  Rev.  John  Murray  more 
than  the  author  of  this  memoir,  who,  indeed,  out  of 
respect  for  his  Christian  virtues  and  excellence,  bears  his 
name ;  but  these  records  must  be  faithful  in  all  respects. 
So  far  from  Mr.  Ballou's  having  obtained  the  opinions 
which  formed  the  great  and  distinctive  features  of  his 
doctrine  from  Murray,  that  venerated  minister  did  not 


48  BIOGRAPHY. 

believe  tlie  creed  of  Universalists  as  taught  by  the  sub- 
ject of  this  biography,  namely :  that  the  Bible  affords 
710  evidence  of  pimishinejit  after  death.  Even  at  the 
time  of  Murray's  death  he  held  most  tenaciously  to  his 
early  belief;  and  he  even  preached  the  doctrine  on  the 
old  Calvinistic  principles,  between  which  and  the  doctrine 
promulgated  by  Mr.  Ballou  there  is  a  wide  difference. 

While  in  the  town  of  Westfield,  a  serious  accident 
occurred  to  Mr.  Ballou,  by  which  he  nearly  lost  his  life, 
being,  by  some  accident,  most  fearfully  scalded.  After 
much  suffering  from  the  injury  thus  received,  he  perfectly 
recovered,  and  soon  after  returned  once  more  to  Rich- 
mond, being  not  yet  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  now 
first  commenced  the  study  of  the  English  grammar,  and 
attended  for  a  period  a  school  kept  in  the  Quaker  meet- 
ing-house in  his  native  town. 

Mr.  Ballou  says  of  this  first  attendance  at  school :  — 
*'  It  was  a  private  school,  the  first  one  ever  opened  in  the 
"  town,  and  was  supported  by  a  few  young  people  with 
"  whom  I  united ;  and  here  I  obtained  the  first  instruction 
"in  English  grammar.  I  now  set  myself  to  work  in 
"  earnest  to  obtain  learning.  I  studied  night  and  day, 
"  slept  little,  and  ate  little." 

At  the  close  of  this  school,  being  actuated  by  an  ear- 
nest desire  to  obtain  knowledge,  and  realizing  more  than 
ever  the  immense  advantage  it  bestowed,  he  determined, 
for  a  period,  to  devote  his  entire  earnings  to  this  end ; 
and,  in  pursuance  of  this  purpose,  he  immediately  en- 
tered the    Chesterfield    (N.    H.)  Academy,   where,  by 


BECOMES   A    PROFESSOR    OF   RELIGION.  49 

industry  and  incessant  application,  allowing  himself  but 
a  brief  period  of  time  out  of  the  twentj-four  hours  each 
day  for  sleep,  in  a  very  short  space  of  time  he  acquired 
a  good  knowledge  of  the  ordinary  branches  of  an  English 
education  of  those  days.  The  tuition  received  by  Mr. 
Ballou  at  this  academy  was  the  first  worthy  of  mention 
that  he  had  ever  enjoyed,  and  was  of  vastly  more  impor- 
tance to  him  than  all  he  had  been  taught  before,  or  had 
himself  acquired,  as  it  regarded  the  rudiments  of  his 
native  language.  Fortunately,  the  instructors  employed 
were  men  of  sound  ability,  and  consequently  from  his 
studies  here  he  realized  most  important  and  lasting 
benefit. 

It  was  not  alone  the  additional  theoretical  knowledge 
that  he  acquired  here  that  we  refer  to  as  being  of  so 
much  advantage  to  him ;  it  was  also  that  which  he  saw 
and  realized  while  at  this  school.  It  was  the  spirit  of 
emulation  that  was  imparted  to  his  disposition  by  observ- 
ing others  in  their  progress,  as  it  regarded  mental  cul- 
ture, and  the  acquirement  of  useful  knowledge.  His 
early  associations  had  been  among  that  class  who  had 
paid  but  little  attention  to  mental  cultivation.  He  had 
enjoyed  but  a  limited  opportunity  thus  far  to  judge  of 
the  incomparable  power  and  importance  of  education ; 
but  now  he  realized  it  at  a  glance,  and,  determining  to 
let  no  means  within  his  power  remain  unexercised  in  the 
gi'eat  purpose  of  obtaining  knowledge  and  of  cultivating 
intelligence,  he  gathered  his  golden  harvest  from  every 
available  source,  and  stored  it  in  the  cells  of  his  brain. 


50  BIOGRAPHY. 

We  have  heard  him  refer  particularly  to  this  period, 
as  having  devoted  the  hours  of  the  night,  as  well  as 
those  of  the  day,  to  enable  him  to  keep  pace  with  more 
experienced  minds  and  better  cultivated  intellects,  and 
how  apparently  gratified  the  preceptor  was  to  see  him 
able  and  thorough  in  his  recitations,  knowing  the  strong 
disadvantages  under  which  he  labored.  It-  was  his  good 
fortune  to  make  the  acquaintance  of  the  teachers  on  good 
terms.  They  seemed  prepossessed  in  his  favor,  and  were 
exceedingly  kind,  and  even  assiduous,  in  rendering  him 
every  needed  assistance  in  his  studies.  This  was  of  un- 
questionable advantage  to  him,  and  made  him,  if  possible, 
more  attentive  than  he  would  otherwise  have  been  as  to 
studies  and  recitations,  that  those  who  had  been  so  kind  to 
him  might  see  that  their  labor  was  not  thrown  away. 
"  I  well  remember,"  says  Mr.  Ballou,  "the  kindness  and 
•'consideration  exercised  towards  me  by  Professor  Logan, 
''  the  principal  of  the  academy,  who  seemed  resolved  that 
"my  tuition  should  be  of  real  benefit  to  me."  And 
thus,  indeed,  it  really  proved,  forming  a  foundation  on 
which  to  rear  a  structure  of  useful  knowledge,  and  the 
better  to  enable  him  to  arrange  and  discipline  his  mind. 

On  leaving  the  academy,  he  obtained  a  certificate  tes- 
tifying to  his  sound  moral  character  and  ability,  which 
document  proved  of  considerable  benefit  to  him  afterwards 
in  obtaining  various  situations  as  a  teacher.  Schools  for 
the  young  were  then  kept  but  a  short  period  at  a  time  in 
New  England,  and  thus  the  teacher  had  often  occasion 
to  change    the   field    of   his   operations.     Though   thus 


BECOMES   A   PROFESSOR   OP   RELIGION.  51 

engaged  in  the  calling  of  a  school-master,  his  mind,  he 
has  frequently  told  us,  was  at  all  times,  when  not  imme- 
diately engaged  with  his  pupils,  occupied  with  the  one 
great  subject  that  had  already  taken  such  root  in  his 
heart,  —  that  of  religion.  His  Bible  was  ever  in  his  hands 
or  about  his  person  for  frequent  reference,  and  his  earnest 
and  constant  prayer  to  Heaven  was  that  he  might  be  able 
rightly  to  comprehend  and  analyze  its  doctrinal  teachings. 
He  found  his  daily  increasing  knowledge  of  the  Bible 
to  be  of  great  advantage  to  him,  as  he  says  himself,  in 
argument  with  others,  and  also  as  it  regarded  properly 
weighing  and  arranging  in  his  own  mind  its  various 
parts,  and  the  bearing  each  sustained  to  the  other.  The 
early  knowledge  thus  obtained  of  the  holy  text  never  left 
him,  and  was  retained  with  most  miraculous  power  and 
correctness  through  his  entire  life. 


CHAPTER  V. 

COMMENCES   TO    PREACH. 

While  Mr.  Ballou  was  yet  but  twenty  years  of  age, 
he  made  one  or  two  unsuccessful  attempts  to  preach  a 
regular  discourse.  That  is,  he  delivered  sermons  once 
or  twice  at  the  period  referred  to,  before  small  assemblies 
of  his  personal  friends  and  relations.  But  so  far  from 
satisfying  himself  in  relation  to  his  ability  for  public 
speaking,  he  was  quite  disheartened  by  the  result  that 
attended  these  his  first  efforts.  Yet,  by  the  constant 
solicitations  of  those  who  were  curious  to  hear  him  dis- 
course upon  the  topic  of  his  peculiar  views,  he  continued 
to  speak,  despite  of  the  advice  of  his  immediate  friends 
and  relations,  until  he  not  only  soon  satisfied  himself  as 
to  his  abilities,  but  also  received  the  cordial  approval  of  a 
large  number  of  those  who  would,  at  the  outset,  have 
discouraged  him  entirely. 

In  relation  to  this  period  of  his  life,  Mr.  Ballou  gives 
us  his  own  words,  and  to  the  point.  But  the  reader  will 
please  to  mark  that  when  he  speaks  at  this  period  of 


COMMENCES   TO    PREACH.  53 

Universalists,  lie  refers  to  those  who  thus  called  them- 
selves, but  who  would,  in  these  days,  be  more  properly 
denominated  Restorationists.  The  correctness  of  this 
statement  will  at  once  be  seen  from  the  fact  of  his  saying 
that  he  met  John  Murray,  etc.,  at  the  first  Unlrersalist 
convention  which  he  ever  attended,  while  those  who  are 
acquainted  with  that  honored  teacher's  tenets  of  faith 
are  aware,  as  we  have  already  stated  in  these  pages,  that 
he  lived  and  died  solemnly  believing  in  a  state  of  future 
suffering  or  punishment,  and  more  latterly  during  his 
life  he  sustained  many  controversies  with  Mr.  Ballou  on 
this  very  subject. 

"  In  September  of  the  year  preceding  my  beginning  to 
*' preach,"  says  Mr.  Ballou,  "  I  went  to  Oxford  with  my 
*'  brother  David,  to  attend  the  first  Universalist  conven- 
*'  tion  I  had  ever  met  with.  Here  I  saw  John  Murray 
*'  for  the  first  time,  and  George  Richards,  and  some  other 
*'  public  preachers.  The  next  summer  after  I  was  twenty 
"  years  old,  I  labored  with  my  brother  on  his  farm,  and 
^'  late  in  the  fall  made  my  first  attempt  to  preach.  This 
*'  was  on  an  evening,  and  at  the  house  of  Deacon  Thayer, 
*'in  Richmond.  Mr.  Thayer  had  been  a  deacon  in  the 
*' Baptist  church,  but  had  become  a  Universalist,  and 
*' still  retained  his  office  with  the  last-named  denomina- 
*'tion.  My  brother  and  Rev.  Caleb  Rich  were  present 
"to  hear  my  first  attempt  to  preach  ;  and,  according  to 
"what  I  could  learn,  they  had  their  doubts  whether  I 
"  had  a  talent  for  such  labor,  but  were  not  without  some 
"  hope.  The  second  time  I  attempted  to  preach  was  in 
5* 


54  BIOGRAPHY. 

"the  town  of  Brattleboro',  Yt.,  where  mj  brother 
"preached  in  the  daytime,  and  I  undertook  to  speak  in 
"  the  evening,  being  overpersuaded  to  do  so ;  but  this 
"attempt  was  a  failure,  and  I  was  greatly  mortified,  and 
"  thought,  for  a  time,  that  I  would  not  engage  in  a  work 
"for  which  I  was  not  competent.  However,  it  was  not 
"long  before  I  became  encouraged  to  try  again,  after 
"  which  I  met  with  no  remarkable  failure  to  produce  dis- 
"  couragement." 

The  comparative  failure  of  Mr.  Ballou's  earliest  at- 
tempts at  public  speaking,  although  soon  afterwards 
followed  by  complete  success,  is  not  at  all  surprising.  It 
is  exceedingly  rare  to  find  the  first  efibrts  of  orators 
satisfactory  to  themselves  and  to  their  friends.  The  first 
attempt  of  Richard  Brinsley  Sheridan,  the  most  brilliant 
orator  of  his  time,  —  if,  perhaps,  we  except  Burke,  who 
was,  however,  more  distinguished  by  the  eloquence  of  his 
diction,  —  was  a  complete  and  decided  failure.  But, 
knowing  himself,  he  declared  emphatically  that  "  it  was  in 
him,  and  must  come  out."  When  General,  then  Colonel, 
Washington  rose  to  respond  to  a  complimentary  address 
of  the  legislature  of  his  native  colony,  he  found  it  impos- 
sible to  express  himself;  and  the  first  efforts  of  the 
illustrious  and  lamented  Henry  Clay  gave  no  promise  of 
his  future  eminence.  It  would  be  easy  to  multiply  illus- 
trations of  the  fact  that  it  is  only  step  by  step  that  fame 
and  honor  are  attained.  No  one  springs  at  a  bound  to 
the  summit  of  his  reputation  and  usefulness.  It  is  only 
shallow  pretenders  who  sometimes  shine  with  a  false  lus- 


COMMENCES   TO    PREACH.  55 

tre  at  the  outset  of  their  career,  soon  to  sink  into  utter 
insignificance.  But  the  true  man,  the  man  of  sterhng 
genius  and  worth,  conscious  of  a  high  mission,  and  confid- 
ing in  Providence  for  the  energy  and  inspiration  necessary 
to  fulfil  it,  is  not  daunted  with  the  obstacles  that  present 
themselves  at  the  outset  of  his  career.  They  are 
regarded  as  trials  and  tests  as  to  his  adaptedness  to  the 
purpose  for  which  he  is  created.  From  every  rebufi*  he 
acquires  new  strength  ;  he  puts  forth  redoubled  energy, 
until  at  last  he  triumphs  over  every  impediment,  and 
stands  forth  in  the  full  energy  of  his  being. 

Had  not  Mr.  Ballou  been  prompted  by  such  a  spirit  as 
this,  had  he  not  been  possessed  of  an  extraordinary  vigor 
of  character,  for  which  he  was  ever  remarkable,  he  would 
hardly  have  persevered  in  his  attempts  to  preacli  under 
these  discouradno:  circumstances.  It  will  be  remembered 
that  he  did  not  sit  down  and  compose  a  discourse  which 
he  afterwards  read  to  his  audience  ;  this  is  comparatively 
an  easy  task.  He  spoke  extemporaneously  then,  as  he 
ever  did  afterwards.  In  subsequent  years  he  was  fre- 
quently called  upon  for  manuscript  copies  of  his  dis- 
courses for  publication.  But  the  sermons  were  not 
written  until  after  they  had  been  delivered ;  and  it  w^as 
not  his  practice  to  put  on  paper  even  the  heads  of  his 
discourse  to  take  into  the  desk  with  him  for  reference  in 
delivery.  Trusting  entirely  to  his  powerfully  retentive 
memory,  the  arrangement  of  his  sermons  was  as  method- 
ical and  connect  as  though  penned  in  the  seclusion  of 
his  study.     We    liave   heard   some   persons,   more    nice 


56  BiOGi  iriiY. 

than  wise,  speak  of  his  extemporaneous  delivery  as  an 
objection,  and  find  fault  because  he  did  not  write  his 
discourses,  and  thus  deliver  them  from  his  notes  in  the 
pulpit.  We  have  a  word  to  say  in  relation  to  this  sub- 
ject, since  it  has  been  thus  referred  to. 

To  speak  extempore  and  at  the  same  time  to  speak  well 
and  to  the  purpose,  to  arrange  certain  points  and  argu- 
ments mentally  with  nice  precision,  so  as  to  deliver  them 
with  fluency  and  effect,  must  require  a  strong  and  healthy 
intellect,  a  powerful  and  original  mind.  But  a  man  with 
an  ordinary  degree  of  mental  cultivation,  who  cannot 
WTite  a  discourse  and  read  it  afterward,  must  be  singu- 
larly deficient  in  his  intellectual  capacity.  It  is  impos- 
sible for  an  audience  to  feel  so  deep  an  interest  in  the 
service  as  that  which  is  felt  in  listening  to  the  spontane- 
ous outbreakings  of  a  warm  and  ardent  mind  while  it  is 
engaged  upon  the  holy  theme.  The  speaker  must 
invariably  grow  enthusiastic  in  so  glorious  a  cause  as  he 
advocates,  and  his  audience  necessarily  partake  of  his 
feelings.  But  when  there  is  any  particular  degree  of 
spirit  or  animation  evinced  by  one  who  is  reading  his 
discourse  verbatim  et  literatim,  it  is  of  necessity  a  pre- 
concerted exhibition,  and  as  such  must  fail  of  its  effect 
with  the  majority.  It  may  be  said  that  no  man  can  lay 
out  so  well  his  matter,  nor  give  so  good  and  sound  an 
argument,  spontaneously,  as  w^hen  he  commits  his  ideas  to 
paper.  This,  as  a  general  thing,  must  be  conceded,  for 
there  are  comparatively  few  intellects  sufficiently  power- 
ful to  adopt  the  opposite  course. 


COMMENCES   TO    PREACH.  5T 

The  advantages  of  extemporaneous  speaking  are  doubt- 
less many.  It  enables  the  individual  to  place  himself  in 
closer  contact  with  the  feelings  of  his  audience,  giving 
him  the  power  to  take  advantage  of  any  bright  thought 
that  unexpected  impulse  may  impart.  An  experienced 
commander  arranges  the  general  plan  of  an  engagement 
before  going  into  battle,  but  he  can  do  no  more,  for 
circumstances  must  guide  him  in  the  conflict.  He  must 
improve  the  opportunity  to  throw  forward  his  forces  just 
at  the  right  moment,  not  too  soon  nor  too  late,  as  such  an 
indiscretion  might  change  the  fortunes  of  the  day,  and 
lose  the  battle  to  him  who  would  else  have  won  it.  So 
with  the  preacher ;  he  must  watch  the  inner  man  of  his 
hearers,  and,  as  he  gains  ground  in  the  heart,  follow  up  his 
influence  by  well-sustained  argument,  and  strengthen  his 
position  by  proper  means  made  available  at  the  appropri- 
ate moment, —  neither  too  lightly  nor  yet  with  too  much 
force,  but  be  guided  safely  by  the  strength  of  the  position 
he  already  holds  in  the  minds  of  his  audience. 

Such  things  cannot  be  correctly  anticipated,  and  laid 
down  beforehand,  by  comma  and  period,  in  the  study. 
Mr.  Ballou's  arguments  were  arranged  with  the  utmost 
precision,  his  reasoning  followed  in  the  most  logical 
array,  and  all  the  while  he  was  talking  to  the  people  in 
the  most  unconcerned  and  familiar  manner,  as  though 
each  respective  member  of  his  congregation  was  sitting 
by  his  own  fireside  and  the  preacher  had  happened  in. 
This  is  the  mode  of  preaching  which  is  effectual,  and  all 
the  flowers  of  rhetoric  may  seek  in  vain  to  attain  a  like 


58  BIOGKAPnY. 

influence  over  the  hearts  and  sympathies  of  an  auditory. 
The  latter  mode  of  preaching  may  please,  but  the  former 
will  convince ;  the  first  will  make  worshippers,  the  last 
admirers.  Thinks  the  reader  that  the  simple  fishermen 
of  Galilee  —  yet  the  chosen  of  God  —  sought  by  the  vain 
and  gaudy  ornaments  of  elegant  delivery  and  studied  elo- 
quence to  please  the  people  ?  No  !  They  preached  the 
holy  word  in  all  meekness,  striving  to  exalt  not  them- 
selves, but  rather  the  name  of  him  who  had  sent  them. 

Mr.  Ballou  says,  relative  to  the  period  when  he  com- 
menced to  preach: — "Mr.  Logan,  the  preceptor,  gave 
"me  a  certificate  when  I  left  the  Chesterfield  Academy, 
"  which  was  suflBcient  to  enable  me  to  get  a  school  in 
"  Bellingham,  Mass.  Here  I  taught  school  during  the 
"  other  days  of  the  week,  and  preached  on  the  Sabbath. 
"  When  I  first  engaged  in  preaching,  it  was  not  with  the 
"  most  distant  expectation  that  I  should  support  myself 
"  by  the  ministry;  but  I  thought  I  could  keep  school 
"some,  and  labor  some  with  my  hands,  and  live  with  but 
"a  little  income.  From  Bellingham  I  went  to  the  town 
"of  Foster,  R.  I.,  where  my  father  formerly  lived,  and 
"  there  my  father  taught  a  large  school  and  had  good 
"  compensation ;  and  here  also  on  the  Sabbath  I  preached 
"  in  the  school-house  where  I  taught.  From  this  place 
"  I  went  to  Scituate,  in  R.  I.,  where  I  preached  and 
"taught  school.  My  meetings  grew  very  large,  and  I 
"  was  called  on  to  go  to  different  places, —  to  Smithfield, 
"  Providence,  Pawtucket,  etc.  After  I  had  spent  about 
•  two  years  in  keeping  school  and  preaching,  I  found 


COMMENCES   TO    PREACH.  59 

"  that  I  had  used  up  all  my  earnings,  had  laid  up  noth- 
"  ing,  except  that  I  had  more  costly  clothing  than  when 
''  I  first  began.  And  now,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four,  I 
"  was  so  much  called  on  to  preach  that  I  gave  up  keeping 
"  school,  and  devoted  my  time  to  the  ministry,  receiving 
'•now  and  then  some  compensation  for  my  services." 

Mr.  Ballou's  life  as  a  public  minister  may  be  said  to 
have  commenced  at  the  age  of  twenty.  From  that  time, 
as  it  became  known  that  he  preached  the  doctrine  which 
was  deemed  by  nearly  all  to  be  such  a  heresy,  there  were 
numerous  invitations,  as  he  shows  us  above,  pouring  in 
upon  him  from  all  quarters,  to  come  and  address  the 
people  concerning  the  faith  he  had  espoused.  His  labors 
were  by  no  means  confined  to  Rhode  Island,  but  he 
preached  in  the  neighborhood  of  Richmond,  and  in  vari- 
ous parts  of  Vermont  and  Massachusetts,  improving  every 
moment  of  leisure  time  in  the  most  careful  study  of  the 
Scriptures.  He  no  longer  preached  on  the  Sabbath  only, 
but  also  on  nearly  every  consecutive  evening  of  the 
week.  It  was  easy  to  gather  an  audience,  anxious  and 
ready  to  listen  to  the  new  and  most  happy  doctrine  that 
the  preacher  taught,  and  even  at  this  early  period  of  his 
ministerial  career  he  began  to  address  those  spontaneous 
mass  assemblies  that  in  after  years  always  gathered  from 
all  directions  to  listen  to  him  whenever  he  appeared. 
Entirely  forgetting  himself,  and  with  but  one  great  object 
in  view,  that  of  preaching  God's  impartial  grace,  and  of 
convincing  all  who  would  listen  to  him  of  the  glorious 
truths  of  Universalism,   he  counted  not  the   hours    of 


60  BIOGRAPHY. 

mental  labor  -wliich  now  increased  upon  him,  but  labored 
hard  and  willingly  with  his  hands  to  clothe  himself, 
receiving  but  a  mere  trifle  for  his  professional  labors. 
Pay,  at  this  period,  he  never  demanded,  and  very  rarely 
expected ;  he  was  fully  contented  with  the  inward  recom- 
pense which  he  realized. 

''At  this  period  of  my  hfe,"  says  Mr.  Ballou,  "my 
'  health  was  very  indifferent.  I  had  most  of  the  time  a 
'  severe  pain  in  the  pit  of  my  stomach,  and  my  appetite 
'  was  far  from  being  good,  and  so  debilitated  was  I  in 
'  strength  that  I  have  even  been  obliged  to  sit  while  I 
'  preached.  It  became  necessary  for  me  to  procure  a 
'  vehicle  to  journey  in,  being  too  weak  to  ride  on  horse- 
'  back ;  however,  by  care  and  good  advice,  I  gradually 
'  recruited.  My  travelling  for  that  period  was  exten- 
'  sive,  from  Cape  Ann  east,  to  the  Connecticut  River 
'  west,  to  Richmond  north,  and  New  London  and  Hart- 
'  ford  south.  All  my  Sabbaths  were  employed,  and  many 
'  lectures  were  attended  during  each  week.  I  preached 
'  in  meeting-houses  when  they  could  be  obtained,  some- 
'  times  in  school-houses,  sometimes  in  barns,  and  not 
'  very  seldom  in  groves  and  orchards,  and  often  in  private 
'  houses. 

"  To  the  people,  the  doctrine  I  preached  was  new,  and 
'  the  opposition  lacked  not  for  bitterness  ;  and  such  was 
'  my  condition  that  I  was  constantly  in  conflict,  and 
'  never  allowed  to  put  oS"  my  armor  to  rest,  day  or  night. 
'  All  manner  of  evil  reports  concerning  me  were  in- 
'  vented,  and  the  worst  of  slander  circulated,  all  tending 


COMMENCES   TO    PREACH.  61 

*'  to  make  me  regardless  of  what  my  enemies  said.  My 
"  answer  to  all  this  slander  was,  while  they  speak  thus 
''  falsely  of  me,  I  am  in  no  danger;  if  I  am  injured  I 
"shall  do  that  myself" 

Theology  was  a  subject  of  most  sombre  hue  at  this 
period  in  New  England.  Calvinism  had  twined  its 
choking  fibres  so  closely  about  the  sacred  tree,  that  its 
branches  drooped,  and  its  leaves  withered  in  the  sunshine 
of  truth.  The  doctrines  taught  from  the  pulpit,  while 
they  were  listened  to  as  a  duty,  were  yet  repulsive  to  the 
heart  of  the  hearer,  and  abhorrent  to  his  very  soul.  The 
principle  of  divine  love  was  clouded  wholly  from  sight  by 
the  dark  mass  of  murky  error  that  enshrouded  all  scrip- 
ture teachings.  The  duties  of  man  to  his  Maker  and  to 
himself  were  held  forth  under  fearful  threats,  as  a  penalty 
for  disobedience,  but  the  idea  that  in  the  performance  of 
our  duty  real  happiness  is  alone  to  be  found,  while  sin 
most  surely  brings  its  own  punishment,  was  never  pub- 
licly advanced.  Sinfulness,  aside  from  the  liabilities  of 
eternity,  was  not  held  up  to  be  avoided,  but  rather 
acknowledged  to  be  pleasant  and  desirable,  while  those 
who  trod  the  paths  of  righteousness  were  taught  to  con- 
sider themselves  as  self-sacrificing  martyrs,  and  told  to 
look  for  their  rcAvard  in  eternity.  It  was  these  obvious 
inconsistencies  that  at  first  challenged  the  attention  of 
the  subject  of  this  memoir.  And  when  he  stood  up  and 
boldly  exposed  these  palpable  errors,  when  he  preached 
love  while  others  preached  wrath  to  the  people,  it  is  not 
singular  that  those  who  were  so  diametrically  opposed  to 
6 


62  BIOGRAPHY. 

him  in  faitli  should  be  ready  to  heheve  and  propagate 
any  stories  that  might  reflect  upon  his  character,  and 
thus  detract  from  his  influence  as  exercised  upon  those 
•who  so  eagerly  listened  to  him,  and  in  whose  hearts,  in 
the  very  nature  of  things,  he  was  sure  of  an  answering 
and  approving  sentiment. 

It  is  a  matter  of  regret  that  Mr.  Ballou  has  left  no 
record  of  his  journeyings  and  labors  during  this  important 
period  of  his  clerical  career,  as  such  a  narrative  would 
have  been  most  deeply  interesting  to  his  family  and 
friends.  The  amount  of  labor  he  performed  must  have 
been  prodigious,  and  fully  accounts  for  the  enfeebled 
bodily  condition  to  which  he  alludes.  Every  fibre  of  his 
intellectual  frame  must  have  been  constantly  in  a  state  of 
extreme  tension ;  for  his  was  not  the  easy  task  of  preach- 
ing on  the  Sabbath  a  written  discourse  which  he  had 
taken  a  whole  week  to  prepare,  but,  as  we  have  said,  he  was 
called  upon  almost  daily  to  address  large  audiences  and 
promiscuous  assemblies.  Nor  was  his  the  pleasant  duty 
of  the  navigator  who  follows  the  course  of  the  stream 
and  the  tide.  He  was  a  pioneer ;  he  preached  a  new 
doctrine;  and,  as  he  says,  "the  opposition  lacked  not 
for  bitterness."  It  is  not  surely  an  exaggeration  to 
declare  that  Universalism  in  those  days  was  popularly 
regarded  with  as  much  hostility  as  Infidelity  itself  is 
now.  Hence,  in  addition  to  the  severe  fatigue  of  travel, 
the  necessity  of  finding  constantly  new  arguments  and 
new  illustrations,  to  sway  the  minds  of  constantly  chang- 
ing auditors,  he  had  to  battle  valiantly,  like  a  soldier  of 


COMMENCES   TO    PREACH.  63 

Christ,  against  the  most  vigorous  and  determined  opposi- 
tion. 

In  this  condition,  how  mentally  and  physically  trying 
must  have  been  his  incessant  labors  in  his  Master's  vine- 
yard !  Neither  by  night  nor  by  day  could  he  for  a 
moment  lay  aside  his  armor.  Standing  alone,  there  was 
no  respite  to  his  exertions.  Later  in  life  he  beheld  a  host 
of  able  followers  ready  to  relieve  him  of  a  portion  of  his 
duties.  His  doctrine  was  no  longer  the  theme  of  obloquy 
and  outrage.  He  outlived  calumny  and  detraction. 
But  it  will  be  seen  that  even  in  extreme  old  age  he  did 
not  spare  himself;  he  did  not  suffer  sloth  to  creep  upon 
his  spirit,  nor  rust  to  gather  on  his  armor.  He  was  still 
the  favored  champion  of  his  cause,  and  ever  ready  to 
minister  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  his  brethren  in  the 
faith. 

With  the  close  of  his  itinerant  labors,  we  now  come  to 
another  important  and  interesting  epoch  in  his  life. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

BECOMES   A    SETTLED    MINISTER. 

The  first  place  in  which  Mr.  Ballou  engaged  perma- 
nently as  a  settled  minister  was  in  the  town  of  Dana, 
Mass.,  in  1794-5.  The  society  here,  not  feeling  able 
to  pay  for  an  engagement  which  should  occupy  him  the 
whole  time,  engaged  him  for  a  portion,  leaving  him  to 
supply  the  societies  in  Oxford  and  Charlton,  Mass.,  also, 
a  portion  of  the  time.  Having  now  become  located,  and 
his  residence  known,  large  numbers  of  people  from  a  dis- 
tance gathered  to  hear  him,  not  only  on  the  Sabbath,  but 
frequently  for  several  consecutive  days  of  the  week 
besides.  Many  there  were  who  held  his  doctrine  to  be 
such  damning  heresy  that  they  counted  it  a  sin  even  to 
listen  to  it ;  while  others  of  his  religious  opponents,  holding 
that  ''  there  is  no  error  so  crooked  but  it  hath  in  it  some 
lines  of  truth,"  came  and  listened,  and  the  seed  not  unfre- 
quently  fell  into  good  soil,  bringing  forth  a  hundred  fold. 

"  Often  was  I  greeted  at  this  time,"  says  Mr.  Ballou, 
"  by  people  who  would  say,   '  Sir,  I  heard  you  preach 


BECOMES   A   SETTLED   MINISTER.  65 

'  a  sermon,  a  few  weeks  since,  from  such  a  text,'  nam- 
'  ing  it,  '  and  I  have  been  uneasy  and  anxious  in  my 
'  mind  ever  since.  If  your  doctrine  is  true,  I  must 
'  understand  and  believe  it.  But,  alas !  I  fear  it  is  too  good 
'  to  be  true ;  it  is  so  different  from  what  I  have  been 
'  brought  up  to  believe  that  I  cannot  divest  my  mind  of 
'  early  prejudices  sufficiently  to  receive  it,  though  Heaven 
'  knows  how  gladly  I  could  do  so.'  Then  the  individual 
'  would  quote  some  passages  of  scripture  which  seemed  to 
'  him  to  be  insuperable  objections  to  the  doctrine  I  pro- 
'  fessed,  and  I  would  do  all  in  my  power  to  explain  these 
'  passages  to  his  mind,  in  the  way  I  had  myself  already 
'  learned  to  interpret  them.  Usually,  with  the  blessing 
'  of  Divine  Providence,  I  was  successful,  at  least  in  a 
'  large  degree,  and  on  the  following  Sabbath  I  was  pretty 
'  sure  to  find  the  honest  seeker  after  truth  among  my 
'congregation,  and  the  following  Sabbath  he  would  be 
'there  again,  attentively  hstening  to  the  word,  until, 
'  finally,  he  came  forth  and  openly  espoused  the  blessed 
'  doctrine  of  God's  impartial  grace.  Thus  encouraged 
'  with  the  growth  of  the  seed  that  I  strewed  by  the  way- 
'  side,  my  task  was  a  grateful  one  to  my  soul,  and  I  was 
'  constantly  gladdened  by  the  visible  fruits  of  my  efforts 
'in  disenthralling  men's  minds  of  the  dogmas  and 
'  blind  creeds  that  early  prejudice  and  the  schools  had 
'  inculcated." 

Let  it  be  borne  in  mjnd  that  at  this  period  he  was 
preaching  Universalism    on    the  principle   of  the    final 
restoration  of  the  whole  human  family,  not  having  satis- 
6* 


66  BIOGRAPHY. 

fied  himself  jj-et  that  there  would  be  no  punishment  in  a 
future  state  of  existence,  or,  indeed,  ever  thought  upon  this 
subject  to  any  great  extent.  Owing  to  the  very  trifling 
amount  of  his  remuneration  from  the  society  in  Dana, 
while  he  resided  there,  besides  tilling  a  small  portion  of 
land,  he  was  obliged  to  keep  school  during  the  week,  and 
this  engagement  was  often  broken  into  for  lecture  pur- 
poses. His  keeping  and  teaching  school  was  a  benefit  to 
him  beyond  the  pecuniary  consideration  he  received, 
inasmuch  as  it  familiarized  him  with  many  branches  of 
an  English  education  which  he  would  perhaps  otherwise 
never  have  acquired,  or  at  least  not  nearly  so  thoroughly 
as  he  did  by  this  means. 

Uninfluenced  by  the  sneers  of  his  opposers,  and  the 
poor  remuneration  he  received  for  the  preaching  of  his 
belief,  he  never  for  one  moment  wavered  in  a  steadfast 
purpose,  even  at  this  early  period,  to  preach  Christ  and 
him  crucified,  and  the  unsearchable  riches  of  God's  good- 
ness. In  this  connection  we  are  reminded  of  the  remarks 
of  the  editor  of  the  New  Covenant,  Chicago,  111.,  who,  in 
his  obituary  notice  of  the  decease  of  Mr.  Ballou,  says  :  — 

"  But  now  we  are  called  to  mourn  the  departure  of 
"one  who,  when  our  cause  had  scarcely  a  name  to 
"live,  —  when  it  was  the  subject  of  the  sneer  of  the 
"  bigot,  as  well  as  of  the  profane  curse  of  the  irreligious, 
"  and  even  its  warmest  friends  scarcely  dared  to  hope  for 
•'  its  resurrection  to  honor  and  respect,  — bent  the  energy 
"  of  a  giant  mind  to  a  life-long  defence  and  promulgation 
"  of  the  truth,  —  by  his  unanswerable  arguments  turned 


BECOMES  A   SETTLED   MINISTER.  67 

"  the  sneer  of  bigotry  into  a  smile  .of  hope,  and  the 
"  curses  of  the  profane  into  blessings,  —  of  one  "who  has 
''  done  more  in  this  age  for  the  liberalizing  of  religious 
"sentiment  than  all  his  contemporaries  combined. 
"  Strong  in  the  faith  he  preached,  and  steadfastly  believ- 
*'  ing  it  must  at  last  triumph,  from  early  youth  to 
"  mature  old  age  he  has  kept  on  his  armor  and  fought 
"  the  good  fight  of  faith,  and  death  even  found  him  at  his 
"  post  as  a  faithful  sentinel,  and  in  the  midnight  hour  he 
^'  could  answer,  '  All  is  well ! ' " 

At  the  age  of  twenty-five,  and  while  resident  in  the 
town  of  Dana,  he  became  acquainted  with  the  family  of 
Stephen  Washburn,  in  the  town  of  Williamsburg,  Mass., 
and,  after  an  intimate  acquaintance  of  about  a  year,  he 
married  their  youngest  daughter,  Ruth  Washburn,  who 
was  some  eight  years  younger  than  himself  His  wife, 
like  her  husband,  had  been  brought  up  to  habits  of  indus- 
try and  economy ;  she  proved  a  kind,  constant,  and 
devoted  help-mate  through  his  entire  life,  sharing  with 
him  every  joy  and  every  burthen,  and,  by  the  influence 
of  a  naturally  strong  and  well  balanced  mind,  a  cheer- 
ful and  gentle  disposition,  exercising  a  most  goodly 
influence  upon  his  life  and  labors.  She  became  the  care- 
ful and  prudent  mother  of  a  large  family,  nine  of  whom 
lived  to  rear  families  themselves  during  the  life  of  their 
parents.  Through  their  whole  lives  there  was  a  remark- 
able oneness  of  feeling,  and  a  depth  of  affection  evinced  by 
each  for  the  other,  that  years  served  only  to  increase, 
and  old  age  to  cement  the  more  closely.  But  of  this 
matter  we  may  yet  speak  more  fully. 


68  BIOGRAPHY. 

Mr.  Ballou  resided  in  the  town  of  Dana  for  about 
seven  years,  devoting  every  spare  hour  to  careful  study 
of  the  Scriptures,  systematizing  his  time  by  a  careful 
division  of  the  hours  of  the  day,  and  permitting  himself 
but  a  very  brief  portion  of  time  for  sleep. 

When  we  say  that  he  devoted  his  time  so  assiduously 
to  study,  we  do  not  mean  that  he  occupied  himself  in  the 
perusal  of  books  alone.  He  thovght  much,  communed 
with  himself  alone,  and  even  at  that  period  accustomed 
himself  to  a  deorree  of  inward  or  mental  communion  with 

o 

himself,  that  would  seem  to  exclude  the  world  about  him, 
for  the  time  being,  from  his  sense  of  seeing  or  hearing. 
This  was  more  observable  in  later  years,  when  he  often 
sat  long  in  his  study  thus,  sometimes  with  his  eyes  closed, 
sometimes  with  their  pupils  directed  to  the  floor  or  the 
ceiling  of  the  room,  his  lips  moving,  and  at  last,  having 
seemingly  weighed  well  some  important  matter,  he  would 
rouse  again  as  if  from  a  trance,  and  look  about  him  with 
apparent  satisfaction  at  the  result  he  seemed  to  have 
accomplished.  Sometimes  these  moments  were  followed 
by  the  use  of  the  pen  for  records  in  his  note-book  of  texts 
and  sermon  heads,  sometimes  by  a  reference  to  the 
Scriptures,  and  sometimes  by  a  walk  in  the  open  air; 
then  his  lips  would  be  seen  to  move,  and  he  would  be 
quite  oblivious  to  all  outward  circumstances.  He  studied 
thus,  carefully  and  deeply.  At  times  he  would  walk  in 
the  fields  or  the  woods  while  thus  occupied:  and  the 
family  never  disturbed  him  by  any  remarks,  or  by  calling 
his  attention,  while  he  was  thus  mentally  absorbed.     In 


BECOMES   A   SETTLED   MINISTER.  69' 

another  part  of  this  biography,  reference  will  be  found 
concerning  this  peculiarity,  as  exhibited  at  a  later  period 
of  his  life,  and  observed  by  one  who  was  an  inmate  of  his 
family,  and  a  student  of  divinity  with  him.  The  family 
were  accustomed  to  his  mood  in  these  matters,  but  it 
usually  affected  a  stranger,  or  one  not  familiar  with  him, 
in  quite  an  impressive  and  solemn  manner;  it  seemed 
so  much  as  though  he  was  communing  with  unseen  spirits, 
and  a  power  that  was  invisible  to  those  about  him  or  to 
himself,  save  through  the  powers  of  his  mental  vision. 

It  would  seem  that  the  little  bodily  rest  which  he 
allowed  himself  at  this  period  must  have  induced  physi- 
cal debility ;  and  yet  it  did  not  appear  to  do  so.  In 
travelling,  a  large  portion  of  his  short  journeyings  were 
made  in  the  evening ;  sometimes  at  midnight  even,  and 
often  before  the  break  of  day,  in  order  to  fulfil  necessary 
appointments  without  encroaching  upon  his  arrange- 
ments at  home.  When  stopping  for  his  horse  to  take  rest 
and  food,  himself  much  fatigued,  he  would  take  his  watch 
from  his  pocket,  and,  laying  it  upon  a  table  near  some 
place  where  he  could  find  a  recumbent  position,  he  would 
carefully  mark  the  time,  and  say  distinctly  to  himself,  "I 
"will  sleep  now  for  just  one  hour,  when  I  must  awake  and 
*'go  on."  Singular  as  this  may  seem,  he  has  told  us  that 
he  never  failed  to  awake  at  the  expiration  of  the  hour, 
and,  much  refreshed,  he  would  mount  his  horse  and  press 
on  to  fill  some  professional  engagement,  perhaps  twenty 
or  thirty  miles  from  the  stopping-place.  At  other  times, 
"while  his  horse  was  eating,  he  would  deliver  a  sermon, 


70  BIOGRAPHY. 

and,  having  completed  it,  would,  without  stopping  for  any 
physical  refreshment  for  himself,  start  oflf  once  more  on 
his  mission. 

"In  searching  the  Scriptures,"  he  says,  "  to  enable 
"myself  to  preach  as  the  divine  oracles  taught,  I  became 
"satisfied  that  those  who  were  then  called  Universalists 
"had  founded  their  doctrine  on  wrong  principles,  as  well 
"as  other  denominations.  The  doctrine  of  man's  native 
"depravity,  of  original  sin,  of  the  deserts  of  eternal 
"misery,  of  the  vicarious  sufferings  of  Christ,  by  which 
"  he  endured,  in  man's  stead,  the  divine  penalty  of  God's 
"  law,  whereby  man  could  escape  the  punishment  due  to 
"his  sins,  was  believed  by  those  who  called  themselves 
"  Universalists,  as  well  as  by  Calvinists :  also,  the  doc- 
"  trine  of  the  Trinity,  holding  that  Christ  is  equal  to 
"  God,  or,  in  other  words,  is  God,  being  the  second  per- 
"son  in  the  holy  Trinity.  All  these  notions,  as  it 
"appeared  to  me,  were  essential  errors,  constituting  a 
"mass  of  confusion.  I  soon  renounced  all  these  views, 
"and  preached  only  God,  and  one  mediator  between  God 
"and  man,  the  man  Christ  Jesus.  All  my  brethren 
"in  the  ministry,  and  all  our  friends,  stood  on  the  old 
"  platform,  and  I  found  that  I  had  to  contend  with  Uni- 
"  versalists  as  well  as  with  partialists.  But  I  went  to 
"  my  work  in  earnest,  laboring,  with  all  my  skill  and 
"  with  all  my  limited  talents,  to  convince  my  brethren  in 
"the  ministry,  and  all  who  heard  me  preach,  that  the 
"doctrines  of  the  Trinity,  of  depravity,  of  eternal  pen- 
"alty,  etc.,  were  neither  the  doctrines  of  the  Scriptures 


BECOMES  A  SETTLED   MINISTER.  71 

*'nor  of  reason.  The  opposition  to  mj  sentiments  fast 
"gave  waj  among  Universalists,  though  even  among 
"them  I  met  with  as  bitter  opposition,  in  some  instances, 
"as  from  other  denominations.  The  first  time  I  preached 
"in  Bro.  Murray's  church,  in  Boston,  was  during  his 
"  absence  in  Philadelphia,  and  I  then  came  out  fully  with 
"  my  Unitarian  views,  which  produced  great  disturbance. 
"  Some  were  violent  in  their  opposition,  while  others,  and 
"  not  a  few,  fell  in  with  my  manner  of  explaining  the 
"  Scriptures.     I  was  then  twenty-eight  years  of  age." 

Mr.  Ballon  says  that  his  declaring  his  views  on  this 
occasion  was  the  cause  of  "great  disturbance."  This 
disturbance  was  so  earnest  that  some  few  of  the  audience^ 
more  bitter  than  the  rest,  rose  in  their  seats  and  declared 
that  the  sentiments  which  had  been  uttered  were  not  in 
accordance  with  Mr.  Murray's  views,  etc.  Whereupon 
Mr.  Ballon  simply  informed  them  that  he  had  been  in- 
vited, w^ithout  solicitation  on  his  own  part,  to  preach  in 
that  desk  ;  that  he  came  there  to  preach  no  one's  convic- 
tions but  his  own  ;  that  he  never  had  consulted,  and 
never  should  consult,  the  taste  of  his  audience  as  to  the 
doctrine  he  preached  to  them ;  but  that  he  should  pro- 
claim the  truth,  as,  by  the  help  of  Heaven,  he  had  been 
enabled  to  learn  it  from  the  Bible,  and  the  truth  only  ! 

On  the  subsequent  day  Mr.  Ballon  was  formally 
waited  upon  by  a  committee  from  the  Society,  who 
thanked  him  for  the  discourse,  and  a  majority  coincided 
also  in  his  peculiar  views. 

The   conclusions  as  to  doctrine  at  which  he  arrived 


72  BIOGRAPHY. 

were  based  upon  severe  study  and  profound  reflection ; 
and  when  we  consider  the  age  at  which  he  had  elaborated 
and  enunciated  a  creed  of  such  vast  importance,  a  creed 
so  entirely  in  advance  of  his  contemporaries,  we  cannot 
fail  to  be  most  forcibly  impressed  with  the  extraordinary 
originality  and  remarkable  precocity  of  his  intellect. 
Such  early  vigor  and  maturity  would  have  been  astonish- 
ing in  one  who  had  enjoyed  all  the  advantages  of  early 
training,  all  the  aids  afforded  by  the  best  theological  insti- 
tutions and  instructors ;  but  in  one  who  had  passed 
through  so  many  hardships,  overcome  so  many  difficul- 
ties, and  was  so  emphatically  self-taught  and  self-made, 
they  can  only  be  regarded  as  evidences  of  the  highest 
genius,  and  the  immediate  favorable  interposition  of  Di- 
vine Providence. 

His  unshaken  faith  and  inflexibility  of  conviction  are 
evinced  by  the  fact  that  he  stood  firm,  not  only  against 
the  opposing  sects,  but  against  the  disciples  of  the  im- 
proved doctrine  which  he  first  preached.  It  requires  not 
a  little  energy  to  confront  declared  foes  ;  but  to  contend 
with  friends,  to  risk  the  loss  of  their  favor  and  support,  is 
a  trial  which  few  have  the  boldness  to  sustain.  But  the 
subject  of  this  biography  knew  not  what  temporizing 
meant ;  his  whole  life,  his  whole  intellect,  all  his  ener- 
gies, were  devoted  to  the  discovery  of  truth,  and  the 
enunciation  of  the  truth  he  discovered.  Had  he  stood 
entirely  alone,  without  one  single  friend,  without  one 
single  proselyte,  he  would  have  spoken  as  he  did,  boldly, 
earnestly,  candidly,  the  apostle  and  defender  of  his  faith. 


BECOMES   A   SETTLED   MINISTER.  73 

The  inspiration  of  his  mission  was  from  on  high ; 
neither  applause  nor  opposition  changed  his  views,  or  in 
the  least  affected  his  serene  and  constant  equanimity. 

The  patient  and  unruffled  manner  in  which  he  always 
held  a  controversy  has  been  often  remarked  of  him ; 
himself  the  mark  for  all  manner  of  personalities  and  low 
reflections,  he  never  descended  to  such  a  mode  of  warfare, 
being  fully  content  in  the  justice  and  power  of  his  cause, 
and  considering  that  as  more  than  equal  to  low  cunning, 
or,  indeed,  any  trickery  of  those  who  opposed  him  so 
bitterly.  Flattery  would  have  been  equally  powerless  in 
effect  upon  him,  for  he  looked  not  to  man  for  approval, 
but  to  his  own  conscience  and  his  God.  Love  of  ap- 
plause is  a  most  natural  trait  in  our  dispositions.  The 
hero  of  a  hundred  battles  feels  his  heart  glow  afresh  at 
the  grateful  meed  of  praise ;  the  politician  reads  the 
glowing  accounts  of  his  own  eloquence  with  secret  gratifi- 
cation ;  and  who  is  there  so  humble  that  is  not  suscepti- 
ble of  flattery,  who  so  high  in  worldly  honors  that  they 
do  not  acknowledge  the  potency  of  applause  7  And  yet 
we  shall  be  sustained  in  the  remark  by  all  who  knew  the 
subject  of  these  memoirs  intimately,  when  we  say,  that 
neither  ridicule  nor  flattery  moved  him  in  the  least,  the 
single  purpose  of  his  life  being  his  Master's  business ; 
and  he  ever  acknowledged  himself,  that  he  really  en- 
deavored to  be  (and  beyond  which  he  aspired  not)  the 
servant  of  all  men.  Few  persons,  with  his  power  over 
the  masses,  and  holding  the  position  that  was  universally 
accorded  to  him,  but  that,  would  have  often  brought 
7 


74  BIOGRAPHY. 

themselves  as  individuals^  with  their  personal  interests 
and  desires,  before  the  public  ;  self-aggrandizement  will 
almost  always  discover  itself  more  or  less  in  prominent 
pubhc  men.  But  he  knew  no  such  incentive  ;  he  had  one 
grand  object  in  view,  one  which  he  never  lost  sight  of, 
and  which  was  more  than  paramount  to  everything  else 
combined  ;  —  it  was  to  inculcate  the  religion  of  God's  im^- 
partial  goodness  and  eternal  grace. 

In  the  thirtieth  year  of  his  age,  he  was  induced  to 
accept  of  the  invitation  of  the  towns  of  Woodstock,  Hart- 
land,  Bethel,  and  Barnard,  Vt.,  making  the  latter  place 
his  home.  While  resident  heie  he  devoted  himself  to 
ardent  and  constant  study,  and  in  the  year  1804  pro- 
duced his  ^^ Notes  on  the  P arables ^^^  one  of  the  most 
popular  and  useful  books,  even  to  the  present  day, 
in  the  Universalist  library.  It  has  passed  through 
numerous  large  editions,  and  a  new  one,  at  this  present 
writing,  is  about  to  be  put  to  press.  It  is  a  book  con- 
taining nearly  the  same  amount  of  matter  as  the  present 
memoir  in  the  reader's  hand.  This  book  was  written 
and  published  at  a  time  when  Mr.  Ballou's  health  was 
really  suffering  from  the  effects  of  his  unremitting  labors, 
both  mental  and  physical. 

"My  health,"  he  says,  "in  those  years  which  I 
"passed  in  Vermont,  was  generally  very  good.  I  had 
''some  time,  previous  to  removing  from  Dana,  been 
"gaining  health  and  growing  more  corpulent,  so  that  my 
"  uniform  weight  for  several  years  was  about  two  hun- 
"dred  pounds."     But  at  the  time  when  he  wrote  the 


BECOMES   A   SETTLED   MINISTER.  *tS 

"Notes,"  for  a  considerable  period  he  had  been  over- 
tasked, and  so  much  so  as  to  materially  affect  his  health. 
The  roads  about  the  country  were  of  a  very  poor 
character,  and  being  unable  to  use  a  vehicle  on  many  of 
the  routes  over  which  he  passed,  he  was  frequently 
obliged  to  accomplish  his  journeys  on  horseback,  which 
was  a  severe  draft  upon  his  strength.  In  his  first  pre- 
face to  the  edition  of  Notes  on  the  Parables,  the  author 
thus  refers  to  the  subject  of  the  book  :  — 

"In  my  travels  through  the  country  in  discharge  of 
"duties  enjoined  by  the  ministry  of  the  Saviour  of  sin- 
"ners,  I  have  met  with  more  opposition  to  the  gospel 
"  preached  to  Abraham  from  false  notions  of  the  parables 
"  of  the  New  Testament,  than  from  any  other  source. 
"  Often,  after  travelling  many  miles  and  preaching  sev- 
"  eral  sermons  in  a  day,  I  have  found  it  necessary  to 
"explain  various  parables  to  some  inquiring  hearer,  when 
"my  strength  seemed  almost  exhausted.  At  such  times 
"I  have  thought  a  volume,  such  as  the  reader  has  in 
"  hand,  might  save  me  much  labor,  and  I  have  often 
"  said  to  myself,  If  God  will  give  me  a  few  weeks'  leisure, 
"  I  will,  with  his  assistance,  employ  them  in  writing 
"  '  Notes  on  the  Parables.'  This  favor  has  at  length 
"  been  granted,  though  it  was  by  depriving  me  of  that 
"degree  of  health  that  was  necessary  to  the  performance 
"of  the  journeys  which  I  had  already  appointed,  yet 
"preserving  so  much  as  to  render  me  composed  in  my 
"  study." 

This  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  most  valuable  books  in 


76  BIOGRAPHY. 

the  Universalist  library ;  particularly  valuable  from  the 
fact  of  its  treating,  in  the  clearest  and  most  forcible  man- 
ner, upon  those  peculiar  doctrinal  points  which,  more 
than  all  others,  have  been  the  theme  of  contention  among 
professed  Christians.  At  the  time  when  Mr.  Ballou 
published  this  work,  his  mind  was  not  fully  made  up  ag 
to  the  subject  of  punishment  after  death ;  but  the  matter 
had  already  resolved  itself  to  this  in  his  mind;  that  if  any 
suffer  in  the  future  state  it  would  be  because  they  would 
be  sinful  there.  It  was  not  long  subsequent,  however, 
that  he  came  to  the  full  knowledge  and  conviction  that 
the  doctrine  of  future  punishment  was  nowhere  taught 
in  the  Bible,  and  this  creed  he  thenceforth  ever  most 
assiduously  preached  on  all  occasions. 

In  his  prefice  to  the  fifth  edition  the  author  says  :  — 
"  On  account  of  so  many  of  the  parables  being  used  by 
"believers  in  endless  punishment  to  support  and  enforce 
"that  sentiment,  the  author  of  the  Notes  was  induced  to 
"study  them  with  special  reference  to  the  question 
"whether  they  might  not,  with  more  propriety,  be  ap- 
"  plied  in  a  different  manner.  Of  this  fact  he  became 
"  fully  satisfied ;  even  as  much  so  as  he  is  now.  But, 
"'though  he  entertained  no  scruples  on  that  point,  he 
"was  not  so  happy  as  to  be  fully  satisfied,  in  every  case, 
"  as  to  the  true  intent  of  the  parable.  In  this  situation 
"  he  cautiously  endeavored  not  to  apply  any  parable  to  a 
"  subject  which  was  not  found  to  be  embraced  in  the  sys- 
"  tem  of  truth  which  the  Scriptures  clearly  and  evidently 
"support.     Little  harm  is  done  by  applying  a  parable  to 


BECOMES  A   SETTLED  MINISTER.  "^"f 

*'  a  subject  to  which  it  was  not  intended  by  the  author  to 
"apply,  provided  the  subject  to  which  it  is  misapphed  be 
"  a  truth  clearly  supported  by  either  Scripture  or  man's 
"experience;  but  to  misconstrue  any  passage  of  the 
"divine  testimony  so  as  to  give  support  to  what  is  not 
"true,  is  unquestionably  no  small  damage;  and  if  the 
"  error  be  of  magnitude,  whereby  our  Heavenly  Father  is 
"represented  in  an  unlovely  character,  or  our  confidence 
"in  his  goodness  diminished,  such  misconstruction  is  not 
"only  a  reprehensible  violence  on  the  Scriptures,  but  a 
"dishonor  to  their  divine  Author.  I  am  persuaded  that 
"a  just  knowledge  of  the  parables  is  almost  indispens- 
"ably  necessary  to  a  knowledge  of  the  doctrine  preached 
"by  Christ,  as  much  of  his  pubhc  communication  was  in 
"  this  way.  It  is  in  the  parables  of  Christ  that  we  learn 
"  the  nature  of  the  two  dispensations  or  covenants ;  the 
"  situation  of  man  by  reason  of  sin  ;  the  character  of  the 
"  Saviour  as  the  seeker  and  savior  of  that  which  was  lost; 
"  the  power  of  the  gospel  as  a  sovereign  remedy  for  the 
"moral  maladies  of  man,  and  its  divine  efficacy  in  recon- 
"  oiling  and  assimilating  the  sinner  to  God.  It  is  by  the 
"parables  that  we  learn  the  unprofitableness  of  legal 
"righteousness  in  point  of  justification  to  eternal  life; 
"the  absolute  necessity  of  becoming  new  creatures,  in 
''  order  to  enter  the  kingdom  of  God ;  the  true  character 
''  of  the  Saviour  as  the  Lord  our  Righteousness,  and  his 
*' divine  power  to  make  all  things  new." 

The  "  Notes  on  the  Parables^''  have  unquestionably 

led  thousands  of  minds  to  valuable  improvement  in  the 

7# 


78  BIOGRAPHY. 

knowledge  of  the  Scriptures,  and  converted  many  a  long- 
ing soul  to  the  precious  and  joyful  belief  of  universal 
salvation.  At  the  time  when  these  Notes  were  written, 
the  light  which  has  now  become  so  general  and  evident  to 
nearly  every  candid  seeker  after  truth, —  the  true  light 
of  the  gospel  of  Christ, —  seemed  to  be  but  just  dawning; 
the  warm  and  genial  sun  of  the  true  faith  but  faintly 
tinged  the  east ;  but  ere  long  it  rose  steadily  and  majes- 
tically, until  it  radiated  its  noonday  warmth,  in  meridian 
splendor  and  beauty.  We  should  remember  that  the 
author  of  the  **  Notes  "  enjoyed  the  use  of  no  other  book 
than  the  Bible  in  forming  and  promulgating  his  own 
opinions,  which  have  since  become  the  general  belief  of 
the  Universalist  order.  The  book  is  especially  lucid  and 
original  in  its  style,  and  bears  in  its  pages  constant 
evidence  of  deep  and  careful  research. 

In  an  excellent  book  lately  issued  by  the  publisher  of 
this  biography,  entitled  a  Memoir  of  Rev.  S.  R.  Smith, 
written  by  Rev.  Thomas  J.  Sawyer,  D.  D.,  of  Clinton, 
N.  Y.,  we  find  the  following  incident  related,  referring 
to  this  period  of  Mr.  Ballou's  life.  It  is  from  the  pen  of 
the  subject  of  the  memoir.  Rev.  Stephen  R.  Smith,  con- 
cerning whose  Christian  excellence  too  much  cannot  be 
said. 

''  By  what  means  the  intelligence  that  Hosea  Ballou 
"  would  preach  on  the  following  Sunday,  in  a  place  fifteen 
"  miles  distant,  could  have  been  conveyed  to  a  very  young 
*'  man,  who  did  not  then  know  a  single  Universalist  in 
"  the  world,  is  not  remembered.     He  went,  however,  and 


BECOMES   A    SETTLED   MINISTER.  79 

"heard  a  discourse  in  the  morning,  from  Zech.  6:  18; 
"  and,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  felt  that  he  had 
"  listened  to  a  sermon  that  neither  involved  an  absurdity 
"  nor  a  contradiction.  The  congregation  was  not  large, 
"and  occupied  a  school-house  in  the  present  citj  of 
"  Utica,  then  a  meagre  and  muddy  village.  A  larger 
"  congregation  was  anticipated  in  the  afternoon,  and 
"  arrangements  were  made  for  the  service  in  the  open  air, 
"  under  some  trees,  on  the  bank  of  the  Mohawk  river. 
"  There,  in  due  time,  a  large  auditory  assembled,  and 
"  listened  to  one  of  Mr.  Ballou's  best  discoui-ses,  from 
"  Deut.  33 :  part  of  the  16th  with  the  17th  verse.  It 
"  was  a  glorious  day,  early  in  June.  The  silence  of 
"  Sunday  was  around  us;  the  bright  blue  heavens  above 
"  us,  partly  veiled  by  the  branches  of  a  few  scattering 
"  oaks  ;  the  clear,  quiet  river  at  our  side ;  the  ruddy  and 
"  healthy  preacher,  in  all  the  vigor  of  manhood,  before 
"  us,  and  pleading  the  cause  of  God  and  humanity  with 
"  a  group  of  most  attentive  hearers.  Such  a  scene  is  not 
"to  be  forgotten;  and,  altogether,  it  was  one,  in  every 
"  respect,  calculated  to  make  the  most  lasting  impression. 
"  And  such  certainly  were  its  effects  upon  the  mind  of  the 
"  writer.  For,  while  it  left  him  without  any  pretension 
"  to  the  knowledge  or  belief  of  Universalism,  as  a  system 
"  of  religious  truth,  it  certainly  satisfied  him  that  it  was 
"  consistent  with  itself,  and  with  all  that  we  see  and  know 
"  of  the  Deity  and  his  moral  government.  It  is  scarcely 
"  to  be  doubted  that  similar  impressions  were  made  on 
"  many  persons  in  that  congregation." 


80  BIOGRAPHY. 

While  resident  in  Barnard,  he  wrote  also  his  "  Trea- 
^^tise  on  Atonement.''''  This  book,  though  written  so 
many  years  since,  is  still  as  popular  as  when  first  issued 
from  the  press,  and  has  passed,  like  the  "  Notes,"  through 
several  large  editions.  It  is  contained  in  a  volume  of 
between  two  and  three  hundred  pages,  and  is  justly 
esteemed  as  one  of  the  soundest  productions  that  has  ever 
emanated  from  the  author's  pen,  and  we  may,  perhaps, 
add  without  apparent  arrogance,  one  of  the  most  thor- 
oughly philosophical  and  argumentative  works  of  the  age. 
In  the  Modern  History  of  Universalism,  the  author,  in 
speaking  of  the  change  of  opinion  generally  from  the 
ideas  preached  by  John  Murray,  Winchester,  and  other 
early  ministers,  says  that  the  belief  in  the  Trinity,  atone- 
ment, and  kindred  notions,  was  discarded  through  the 
influence  of  this  book. 

"  The  labors  of  Hosea  Ballou,  of  this  city,"  says  the 
author,  "  may  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  principal  means 
"  of  the  change.  In  the  ^Treatise  on  Atonement ^^  he 
"  has  treated  the  subject  at  length,  maintaining  the  sub- 
''  ordination  of  the  Son  to  the  Father,  the  eternal  and 
''  impartial  love  of  God  to  all  creatures,  and  holding  forth 
"  the  death  of  Christ  not  as  the  cause,  but  as  the  effect 
*'  of  this  eternal  principle  of  the  divine  nature.  The 
"  very  wide  circulation  of  this  work  evinces  the  high 
*'  estimation  in  which  it  has  been  held  by  the  American 
*'  Universalists." 

We  subjoin  also  the  following  notice  of  the  "  Treatise, '* 
because  we  think  it  a  most  truthful  critique  relative  to 


BECOMES  A    SETTLED   MINISTER.  81 

the  book,  which  we  desire  to  have  the  readers  of  this 
biography  to  understand.  In  this  review,  which  appeared 
not  long  since  in  the  Evangelical  Magazine,  the  editor 
says :  — 

"  The  decided  manner  in  which  the  doctrine  of  vica- 
'  rious  atonement  is  rejected,  the  prominence  given  to 
'  the  belief  that  Jesus  was  a  dependent  being,  dependent 
'  like  ourselves  on  a  common  Father  and  God,  and  that 
'  he  was  sent  to  preach  the  truth  and  illustrate  its 
'  requirements,  and  by  his  exclusive  influence  to  recon- 
'  cile  man  to  his  Maker,  were  subjects  so  new,  so  start- 
'  ling,  that  for  a  time  the  work  appears  not  to  have  been 
'  very  well  received.  But  the  important  object  was 
'  attained.  The  public  attention,  and  especially  that  of 
'  Universalists,  was  drawn  to  the  consideration  of  these 
'  fundamental  and  momentous  doctrines.  The  author's 
'  views  were  very  generally  adopted  by  the  order,  and 
'  the  book  obtained  unbounded  popularity.  It  deserves 
'  this  distinction,  for  it  doubtless  wrought  the  great  revolu- 
'  tion  that  transformed  Universalism  from  the  Unitarian 
'  hypothesis,  with  all  its  concomitants,  into  the  simple 
'  and  intelligible  system  formed  in  the  doctrine  of  the, 
'  indivisible  oneness  of  God.  It  is,  perhaps,  impossible 
'  to  estimate  the  influence  which  this  work  has  had  upon 
'  the  so-called  Unitarian  controversy  in  New  England. 
'  But  this  much  is  quite  certain,  the  '  Treatise '  was 
'  one  of  the  earliest  pubHcations  that  openly  and  dis- 
'  tinctly  rejected  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity,  and  man- 
'  fully   met   the   prevailing   prejudioes   respecting  that 


82  BIOGRAPKY. 

"  subject.  But  aside  from  these  matters,  there  is  not 
*'  another  book  in  the  country,  on  the  same  subject,  that 
"  has  been  read  by  half  the  number  of  persons,  or  wrought 
''conviction  of  the  truth  of  the  doctrine  of  the  Divine 
"  unity  in  one  half  so  many  minds,  as  this  ''Treatise  on 
''^Atonement.''  " 

These  notices,  as  we  have  just  intimated,  are  introduced 
here  to  give  the  reader,  who  may  not  be  otherwise 
acquainted  with  the  "  Treatise,"  a  correct  and  clear  idea 
of  the  work.  Though  among  the  earliest  of  Mr.  Ballou's 
publications,  this  book  is  far  from  being  deficient  in  any 
point,  either  as  to  sound  logical  reasoning,  or  in  force  and 
earnestness  of  style.  Simple,  yet  profound,  it  is  within 
the  capacity  of  the  humblest  to  comprehend  and  fully 
understand,  while  it  cannot  fail  to  challenge  the  admira- 
tion of  the  scholar  and  philosopher.  It  is  written  in  the 
plain,  straightforward  manner  which  so  distinguished  his 
after  productions, '  and  which  never  failed  to  carry  convic- 
tion with  it.  "  The  '  Treatise  '  has  been  pronounced  by 
''  one  of  the  strongest  minds  of  the  age,"  says  the  pub- 
lisher of  the  sixth  edition,  "  to  be  one  of  the  soundest 
"arguments  in  the  English  language."  Were  the  author's 
reputation  to  rest  solely  upon  this  work,  we  should  feel 
satisfied  at  the  manner  in  which  his  memory  must  be 
handed  down  to  posterity. 

In  his  preface  to  the  first  edition  of  the  book,  he  says : 
— "  Many  circumstances  might  be  mentioned,  which,  in 
*'  their  associations,  have  induced  me  to  write  and  pub- 
"  lish  the  following  treatise ;  but  I  can  say  with  pro- 


BECOMES  A   SETTLED   MINISTER.  83 

"  priety,  that  the  principal  object  was  that  in  which  I 
"always  find  the  greatest  happiness,  namely,  to  do  what 
"  I  find  most  necessary  in  order  to  render  myself  useful 
"  to  mankind." 

At  the  time  of  the  publication  of  this  "Treatise,"  Mr. 
Ballou  had  by  no  means  arrived  at  such  a  degree  of 
understanding  and  behef  upon  the  subject  of  the  Scrip- 
tures as  was  the  case  in  after  years,  and,  with  wise  fore- 
thought, he  thus  speaks  his  mind  in  the  preface  to  the 
first  edition :  — 

"  I  have  often  been  solicited  to  write  and  publish  my 
"general  views  on  the  gospel,  but  have  commonly 
"  observed  to  my  friends  that  it  might  be  attended  with 
"  disagreeable  consequences,  as  it  is  impossible  to  deter- 
"  mine  whether  the  ideas  we  entertain  at  the  present  time 
"  are  agreeable  to  those  which  we  shall  be  under  the 
"necessity  of  adopting  after  we  have  had  more  experi- 
"  ence  ;  and  knowing,  to  my  satisfaction,  that  authors  are 
"  very  apt  to  feel  such  an  attachment  to  sentiments  which 
"have  been  openly  avowed  to  the  world,  that  their  pre- 
"  judice  frequently  obstructs  their  further  acquisition  in 
"  the  knowledge  of  the  truth,  and  even  in  cases  of  con- 
"  viction  their  own  self-importance  will  keep  them  from 
"  acknowledsrino;  their  mistake." 

Though  he  was  thus  cautious  (and  what  judgment, 
prudence,  and  cool  reasoning  are  evinced  in  this  para- 
graph), the  only  change  that  experience  did  bring  about, 
in  the  author's  mind,  was,  that  he  became  even  more 
fully  convinced,  as  the  experience  of  years  ripened  the 


84  BIOGRAPHY. 

harvest  of  his  -wisdom,  of  the  truths  of  his  former  belief, 
and  made  still  further  progress  (a  word  that  he  loved 
and  lived  up  to),  in  addition  to  certain  points  that  are 
but  lightly  touched  upon  in  the  work. 

The  following  letter,  relating  to  this  and  other  works, 
was  elicited  by  the  presentation  to  Mr.  Ballou  of  a  set,  in 
a  new  and  uniform  edition  with  some  of  his  subsequent 
publications  ;  the  constant  call  for  these  books,  even  after 
several  large  editions  had  been  exhausted,  and  a  long 
period  of  years  had  elapsed  since  their  first  being  issued, 
requiring  this  fresh  publication  of  them.  Mr.  Ballou 
having  parted  with  the  copyright  at  the  time  of  pub- 
lication, they  were  of  course  in  the  hands  of  the  trade. 
This  letter  is  introduced  here  as  illustrative  of  the  humble 
estimate  he  put  upon  his  own  important  labors  and  dis- 
coveries, and  is  also  in  style  very  like  him.  It  bears  date 
1844,  and  was  written,  consequently,  when  he  was  sev- 
enty-three years  of  age.  It  was  addressed  to  the  editor 
of  the  Trumpet,  and  appeared  in  the  editorial  columns 
of  that  paper. 

"Br.  Whittemore:  Please  permit  me  to  acknowl- 
"  edge  with  gratitude  a  favor  I  have  received  from  Br. 
"  Abel  Tompkins,  consisting  of  four  volumes  of  my 
"writings:  my  Notes  on  the  Parables  of  the  New  Tes- 
"tament;  my  Treatise  on  Atonement;  my  course  of 
"  Lecture  Sermons,  and  my  Select  Sermons.  It  gives 
' '  me  much  pleasure  to  learn  that  these  works  have  been 
"  so  favorably  regarded  by  the  denomination  with  which 


BECOMES  A   SETTLED   MINISTER.  85 

"  I  have  had  the  happiness  to  hold  an  unbroken  and  un- 
"interrupted  connection  for  more  than  half  a  century,  as 
"  to  warrant  this  new  edition.  The  improved  style  in 
"  which  these  volumes  now  appear  cannot  fail  to  give 
''  entire  satisfaction  to  all  who  have  a  good  taste,  and  will 
"  doubtless  facilitate  their  sale. 

"  When,  more  than  forty  years  ago,  I  wrote  my 
''  '  Notes  '  and  '  Treatise,'  I  had  never  seen  any  work  in 
"defence  of  the  doctrine  of  the  Divine  unity,  and  the 
"  dependency  of  the  Son  upon  the  Father.  When  this 
"  circumstance  is  duly  considered,  the  reader  will  be 
"  satisfied  that  the  writer  must  have  exerted  the  limited 
"  powers  of  his  mind  to  their  utmost  capacity.  This  is 
"all  the  credit  he  claims. 

"HosEA  Ballou." 

Mr.  Ballou  has  long  been  allowed  the  credit,  which  is 
also  most  justly  due  to  him,  of  having  been  the  first 
Unitarian  writer  in  this  country ;  for,  as  he  says  above, 
he  had  never  seen  any  book  in  defence  of  the  doctrine  of 
the  Divine  unity  when  he  wrote  in  favor  of  those  princi- 
ples in  the  works  referred  to.  Another  evidence  of  the 
fact  is,  that  Mr.  Ballou' s  sentiments  at  that  time  were 
considered  most  strange  and  novel  by  all. 

"  In  this  Treatise,"  says  Be  v.  Thomas  Whittemore, 
"  Mr.  Ballou  took  the  ground  that  God  was  never  un- 
"  reconciled  to  man ;  that  man  was  the  party  who  needed 
"  reconciliation,  for  God  is  love  from  eternity  to  eternity, 
"  and  that  God's  love  to  sinners  was  the  cause  of  Christ's 
8 


8ft  BIOGRAPHY. 

*'  being  sent  by  the  Father  to  redeem  them.  He  held 
"  that  Christ  was  not  God  himself,  but  the  Son  of  God  ; 
''  a  distinct  being  from  the  Father, —  a  Glycated  being  ;  — 
''  a  doctrine  which  he  had  behoved  and  preached  for  ten 
"years,  having  commenced  to  preach  it  as  early  as  1795. 
''  He  must  therefore  be  regarded  as  the  earliest  defender 
'^  of  Unitarianism  the  country  has  produced." 

Mr.  Ballou  says,  relative  to  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity : 
— "I  had  preached  but  a  short  time  before  my  mind  was 
"  entirely  freed  from  all  the  perplexities  of  the  doctrine 
"of  the  Trinity,  and  the  common  notion  of  atone- 
"  ment.  But  in  making  these  advances,  as  I  am  disposed 
"  to  call  them,  I  had  the  assistance  of  no  author  or 
"  writer.  As  fast  as  these  old  doctrines  were,  by  any 
"  means,  rendered  the  subject  of  inquiry  in  my  mind, 
"  they  became  exploded.  But  it  would  be  difficult  for 
"  me  now  to  recall  the  particular  incidents  which  sug- 
"  gested  queries  in  my  mind  respecting  them." 

The  reader  will  at  once  be  prepared  to  admit  that  Mr. 
Ballou  must  have  expended  much  time  and  labor  in  the 
research  and  study  of  the  Scriptures,  necessary  to  enable 
him  to  write  and  publish  these  works,  in  a  cause,  and 
upon  a  theme,  wherein  he  was  a  pioneer.  He  steered  his 
barque  into  new  waters,  and  was  obliged  himself  to  stand 
ever  with  the  "  lead  "  in  his  hand,  to  ascertain  the  true 
soundings,  and  keep  thus  in  the  narrow  channel  of 
truth.  Concerning  this  matter,  he  has  said,  in  an  article 
furnished  for  a  work  entitled  "  Modern  History  of 
Universalism :"  — 


BECOMES   A    SETTLED    MINISTER.  87 

*'  I  never  read  anything  on  the  doctrine  of  universal 
"  salvation  before  I  believed  it,  the  Bible  excepted  ;  nor 
''did  I  know,  that  I  can  now  recollect,  that  there  was 
''  anything  published  in  its  vindication  in  the  world.  Nor 
"  had  I  ever  heard  a  sermon  on  the  subject,  except  in 
"  boyhood  I  once  heard  Brother  Rich,  but  concerning 
*'  that  sermon  I  realized  nothing." 

In  speaking  of  his  advance  towards  the  knowledge  of 
the  truth,  after  his  conversion,  he  says,  in  a  published 
article :  — 

"  It  may  be  proper  for  me  to  state  one  circumstance 
''  which  had  no  small  tendency  to  bring  me  over  to  the 
''  ground  on  which  I  have  for  so  many  years  felt  estab- 
"  hshed.  It  was  by  reading  some  deistical  writings.  By 
"  this  means  I  was  led  to  see  that  it  was  utterly  impos- 
"  sible  to  maintain  Christianity  as  it  had  been  generally 
"  believed  in  the  church.  This  led  me  of  course  to 
"  examiner  the  Scriptures,  that  I  might  determine  the 
''  question,  whether  they  did  really  teach  that  Jesus 
"  Christ  died  to  reconcile  an  unchangeable  God  to  his 
"  own  children.  You  cannot  suppose  I  was  long  in  find- 
"  ing  that,  so  far  from  teaching  such  absurdities,  the 
"  Scriptures  teach  that  '  God  was  in  Christ,  reconciling 
"  the  world  to  himself  The  question  concerning  the 
"  Trinity  was  by  the  same  means  as  speedily  settled." 

It  is  an  interesting  and  curious  fact  that  he  should 
have  been  aided,  as  it  were,  by  the  darkness  of  error  to 
find  the  light  of  truth.  The  obvious  inconsistency  in  his 
former  belief,  made  evident  by  the  deist,  did  not  Tyin 


88  BIOGRAPHY. 

him  to  the  fliith  of  the  latter,  but  rather  led  him  to  inves- 
tigate for  himself,  and  to  find  a  religion  more  congenial 
■with  the  native  promptings  of  his  own  heart  and  the  evi- 
dences of  the  Bible.  His  was  an  exploring  mind ;  he 
■was  not  content  to  receive  this  faith,  or  that  position, 
because  others  believed  it,  or  because  it  had  remained  so 
long  the  unchallenged  and  unquestioned  creed  of  the 
church.  He  must  look  into  the  matter  and  understand  for 
himself,  and  make  all  parts  of  a  doctrine  to  harmonize 
■with  each  other,  before  he  could  reconcile  it  -with  his  owa 
reason  and  convictions. 

This  was  a  trait  of  character  not  alone  observable  in 
him  as  it  related  to  the  subject  of  religion  ;  he  applied  the 
same  rule  to  the  affairs  of  every-daj  life,  to  political 
economy  and  business  arrangements.  He  "was  always 
open  to  conviction,  to  reason  and  evidence,  but  could  never 
embrace  blindly  any  proposition  whatever.  Because  the 
political  party  which  the  nearest  assimilated  to  his  views 
of  the  proper  mode  of  government  adopted  this  or  that 
policy,  he  did  not  by  any  means  consider  it  his  duty  to 
coincide  with  them,  against  his  sober  conviction,  and  he 
never  did  so  ;  on  the  contrary,  as  often  criticising  the 
measures  of  one  political  party  as  another,  and  frequently 
finding  much  excellence,  and  principles  worthy  of  com- 
mendation in  the  national  policy  of  both.  For  this  reason 
he  could  not  be  a  politician,  had  he  experienced  an  incli- 
nation that  way.     He  was  too  honest. 


CHAPTER   VII. 


After  the  expiration  of  a  period  of  six  years  from  the 
time  of  his  first  settlement  in  Barnard,  Vt.,  and  during 
which  season  he  enjoyed  an  uninterrupted  flow  of  kind- 
ness and  good  fellowship  with  the  societies  of  his  charge, 
he  accepted  the  invitation  of  the  society  of  Portsmouth, 
N.  H.,  to  become  their  pastor,  and  to  devote  his  whole 
time  to  the  good  of  the  cause  in  that  place.  He  had 
formed  within  the  circle  of  his  professional  labors  in  Ver- 
mont a  host  of  kind  and  warm-hearted  friends,  and  it 
was  a  considerable  period  after  the  proposition  had  been 
made  to  him,  before  he  could  make  up  his  mind  to  accept 
it.  He  did  so,  at  last,  however,  influenced  by  several 
reasons. 

First,  the  large  field  over  which  he  was  obliged  to 
travel,  while  settled  in  Barnard,  involved  not  only  much 
physical  labor  and  expense,  but  also  the  loss  of  a  large 
amount  of  time,  that  might  be  devoted  to  more  profitable 
pursuit.  Then  the  pecuniary  emolument  ofiered  him  at 
8^ 


90  BIOGRAPHY. 

Portsmouth  was  considerably  larger  than  he  had  yet 
received,  and  his  now  growing  family  rendered  such  a  fact 
to  be  a  necessary  consideration.  And  yet,  let  it  not  be 
supposed  that  there  was  any  mercenary  trait  in  his  char- 
acter ;  such  was  as  foreign  to  his  nature  as  was  deceit,  or 
guile  of  any  sort,  as  the  progress  of  this  biography  will 
show.  He  realized,  also,  that,  while  such  a  change  would 
diminish  his  physical  labors,  it  would  doubtless  enlarge 
the  sphere  of  his  usefulness,  bringing  him  in  contact  with 
larf!;er  audiences  and  more  miscellaneous  assembla";es  than 
usually  gathered  to  listen  to  his  public  communications  in 
a  less  thickly  settled  district. 

He  says,  in  this  connection  :  —  "I  have  found  through- 
'^  out  my  life,  that  whatever  place  I  have  long  tarried  in, 
"  I  have  become  greatly  attached  to,  and  to  the  people 
'^  with  whom  I  associated.  This  was  peculiarly  the  case 
"  in  Barnard,  and  among  the  neighboring  societies,  with 
"  whom  I  was,  for  a  period  of  six  years,  most  agreeably, 
"  and  I  trust  profitably  associated.  I  long  weighed  the 
"  proposal  from  my  friends  in  Portsmouth  in  my  mind, 
"  before  I  could  consent  to  break  up  a  connection  which 
"  had  afforded  me  so  much  real  satisfaction.  But  might 
*'  I  not  render  myself  more  useful  by  accepting  this  call'? 
"  Was  it  not  the  design  of  my  IMaster  to  enlarge  my 
"sphere  of  usefulness  in  his  service 7  These  things  I 
"  weighed  carefully  in  my  mind,  and  prayed  for  counsel 
"and  power  to  enable  me  to  judge  of  my  duty  aright; 
"  until,  finally,  believing  it  to  be  my  duty,  I  accepted  the 


BEHOVES  TO   PORTSMOUTH,    N.  H.  91 

*'call  of  my  brethren  in  New  Hampshire,  and  accord- 
"  ingly  removed  to  Portsmouth." 

Duly  weighing  these  matters,  he  deemed  it  his  duty, 
as  he  says,  to  bid  his  brethren  in  Vermont  farewell,  and 
he  removed  to  Portsmouth  in  the  year  1807.  being  in  the 
thirty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  Here  he  was  installed,  Nov. 
8,  the  sermon  on  the  occasion  being  preached  by  Rev. 
Edward  Turner,  then  of  Salem.  Though  the  pecuniary 
emolument,  before  referred  to,  was  somewhat  more  than 
he  had  formerly  received,  yet  it  required  an  exercise  of 
the  utmost  frugality  and  prudence  to  enable  him  to  sup- 
port his  family  comfortably.  Indeed,  this  could  not  be 
done  upon  his  salary  as  pastor  of  the  Universalist  Society 
alone,  and  therefore,  in  addition  to  his  other  numerous  and 
arduous  duties,  he  attain  taught  school  for  a  considerable 
period,  while  resident  in  this  place,  assisted  by  Hosea 
Ballou,  2d,  now  Dr.  H.  Ballou,  of  Medford.  If  it  be 
true,  as  Lord  Bacon  has  said,  that  reading  makes  a  full 
man,  conversation  a  ready  man,  and  writing  an  exact 
man,  then  teaching  certainly  embraces  the  advantages  to 
be  derived  from  all  three ;  and  this  Mr.  Ballou  found  to 
be  the  case,  as  he  has  often  said. 

While  resident  in  Portsmouth,  notwithstanding  the 
labors  of  the  week,  the  necessary  preparation  for  the  Sab- 
bath, and  the  earnest  efforts  that  were  required  of  him 
upon  that  sacred  day,  still  he  pursued  a  course  of  religious 
investigations  into  the  subject  of  the  holy  text,  that  we 
are  at  a  loss  to  know  when  he  found  time  to  consummate. 
It  was  at  this  period  that  he  wrote  his  "Candid  Review," 


92  BIOGRAPHY. 

in  reply  to  a  work  by  Rev.  Isaac  Robinson,  A.  M.,  upon 
some  important  doctrinal  points.  It  is  contained  in  one 
volume  of  two  hundred  pages,  and  adduces  some  of  the 
strongest  arguments  in  favor  of  impartial  and  universal 
grace  that  have  ever  been  published,  either  by  himself  or 
others.  This  book  was  exceedingly  popular  at  the  time 
of  its  first  appearance,  and  created  not  a  little  excitement 
among  rehgious  controversialists  in  New  Hampshire,  and, 
indeed,  throuf^hout  the  New  Eno^land  States. 

He  also  wrote,  while  resident  in  Portsmouth,  a  series 
of  letters  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Joseph  Buckminster, 
upon  important  doctrinal  subjects,  which  was  published  in 
one  volume.  A  Controversy  with  Rev.  Mr.  Walton  was 
written  and  published  here,  besides  one  or  two  minor 
works,  including  a  school  catechism,  for  a  long  period  of 
years  in  general  use  among  the  denomination.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  labor  necessary  to  produce  these  in  connection 
with  his  regular  professional  duties,  he  was  also  associate 
editor  of  a  religious  quarterly,  entitled  the  "Gospel  Vis- 
itant," in  which,  however,  he  had  no  further  interest  than 
his  editorial  connection.  His  contributions  to  this  work 
were  copious,  and  marked  by  the  same  profound  reasoning 
capacity  and  lucid  style  that  have  characterized  every  work 
he  has  produced.  It  was  while  engaged  in  editing  this 
publication  that  he  came  to  the  full  belief  that  there  was 
no  punishment  after  death,  and  ever  after,  he  preached  the 
doctrine  of  universal  salvation  in  this  spirit,  and  labored 
strenuously  in  its  defence  and  support. 

Relative  to  this  subject  Mr.  Ballou  has  written :  —  ''I 


N.  H.  93 

"  cannot  saj  that  I  was  fully  satisfied  that  the  Bible 
"  taught  no  punishment  after  death,  until  I  obtained  this 
"  satisfaction  by  attending  to  the  subject  with  Bro. 
"  Edward  Turner,  respecting  the  doctrine  of  the  Scrip- 
''  tures  upon  this  question.  We  agreed  to  do  the  best 
"  we  could,  he  in  favor  of  future  punishment,  and  I  on 
"  the  contrary.  Our  investigations  were  published  in  a 
"  periodical  called  the  '  Gospel  Visitant.'  While  attend- 
"  ing  to  this  correspondence,  I  became  entirely  satisfied 
"  that  the  Scriptures  begin  and  end  the  history  of  sin  in 
"  flesh  and  blood,  and  that  beyond  this  mortal  existence 
"  the  Bible  teaches  us  no  other  sentient  state  but  that 
"  which  is  called  by  the  blessed  name  of  life  and  immor- 
'•  tality." 

In  another  article  relative  to  the  same  subject  he  says : 
—  "  The  doctrine  of  punishment  after  death  has,  by  many 
*' able  writers,  been  contended  for;  some  of  whom  have 
''  argued  such  punishment  to  be  endless,  and  others  lim- 
"  ited.  But  it  appears  to  me  that  they  have  taken  wrong 
"ground  who  have  endeavored  to  support  the  latter,  as 
*'  well  as  those  who  have  labored  to  prove  the  former. 
''  They  have  both  put  great  dependence  upon  certain 
''  figurative  and  parabolical  expressions,  or  passages  of 
"  Scripture,  which  they  explain  so  as  to  cause  them  to 
"  allude  to  such  an  event.  It  appears  to  me  that  they 
*'  have  not  sufficiently  attended  to  the  nature  of  sin,  so  as 
''  to  learn  its  punishment  to  be  produced  from  a  law  of 
"  necessity^  and  not  a  law  of  penalty.  Had  they  seen 
"  this,  they  would  also  have  seen  that  a  perpetuity  of 


94  BIOGRAPHY. 

"  punishment  must  be  connected  with  an  equal  continu- 
"  ance  of  sin,  on  the  same  principle  that  an  effect  is 
"  dependent  upon  its  cause." 

This  brief  paragraph  will  show  the  reader  how  Mr. 
Ballou  was  accustomed  to  argue  upon  this  subject,  of  such 
vital  importance  to  all,  and  which  is  a  question  still  in  the 
minds  of  many  of  our  Universalist  brethren,  both  ministry 
and  kit  J. 

At  the  expiration  of  six  years  from  the  date  of  his  set- 
tlement in  Portsmouth,  and  during  which  time  his  asso- 
ciation with  the  people  of  his  charge,  and  others  in  that 
place,  had  been  not  only  of  the  most  pleasant  and  agree- 
able character,  but  also  highly  profitable  as  it  regarded 
their  mutual  spiritual  advancement,  up  to  the  period  of 
the  war  with  Great  Britain,  he  made  his  arrangements  to 
leave  Portsmouth,  having  received  an  invitation  from 
the  Universalist  Society  in  Salem,  Mass.,  to  settle  in 
that  town,  and  to  devote  his  professional  services  to  their 
especial  good.  Mr.  Ballou  says  of  his  connection  with 
the  society  in  Portsmouth : — 

"My  connection  with  the  people  of  Portsmouth  was 
"  very  cordial  and  happy,  until  that  gloomy  war-cloud 
"  which  brought  on  a  conflict  with  England  came  over 
"  the  land.  The  anti-war  party  was  numerous,  and  very 
' '  influential ;  and,  as  I  could  not  consent  that  my  country 
"  was  in  the  wrong,  a  bitter  spirit  became  manifested 
"  towards  me,  which  so  operated  towards  the  close  of  the 
"  war,  that  I  became  satisfied  it  was  my  duty  to  stay  in 
*'  that  place  no  longer;  and  as  the  society  in  Salem  was 


REMOVES  TO    SALEM,    MASS.  95 

"  without  a  pastor,  I  received  an  invitation,  which  I 
"  accepted,  to  remove  to  that  delightful  place." 

This  was  by  no  means  a  solitary  instance  or  evidence 
of  the  warm  patriotic  fire  that  ever  burned  brightly  in  his 
bosom.  He  was  ardently  attached  to  the  republican  prin- 
ciples of  our  government,  and  never  failed,  on  every 
suitable  occasion,  to  evince  the  most  earnest  attachment 
for  his  country.  Though  a  constant  and  untiring  student 
of  divinity,  yet  he  was  by  no  means  a  novice  in  political 
economy;  the  basis  of  our  institutions,  and  their  true 
spirit  as  set  forth  by  the  constitution,  the  influences  and 
natural  results  of  our  style  of  government,  and  the  politi- 
cal soundness  of  the  nation,  were  themes  on  which  he  was 
more  than  well  informed,  but  yet  he  always  carefully 
avoided  mingling  in  party  politics. 

He  removed  to  Salem  in  the  month  of  June,  1815, 
where  he  found  many  cordial  and  true  friends,  whose 
memory  and  companionship  he  cherished  to  the  close  of 
life.  While  resident  here  he  wrote  a  pamphlet  in  reply 
to  one  by  John  Kelley,  A.  M.,  entitled  ''  Solemn  and 
Important  Reasons  against  becoming  a  Universalist." 
This  review  was  comprised  in  a  pamphlet  of  eighty  pages, 
and  is  a  strong  and  powerful  argument  in  favor  of  the 
principles  which  the  author  believed,  and  which  he  advo- 
cated with  such  successful  zeal.  These  minor  publica- 
tions of  JVIr.  Ballou's,  when  now  referred  to,  convey  but  a 
faint  idea  of  the  interest  which  they  then  produced. 
Their  extended  and  immediate  influence  was  evident. 
Vast  numbers  were  sold ;  some  zealous  people,  rejoicing  at 


96  BIOGRAPHY. 

the  joy  unspeakable  to  which  thej  had  themselves  attained 
through  the  author's  writings  and  public  communications 
from  the  pulpit,  purchased  them  by  wholesale,  and  dis- 
tributed them  gratis,  far  and  near.  His  hearers,  too, 
largely  increased  in  numbers,  and  he  was  rewarded  for 
his  labors  by  witnessing  the  rich  harvest  that  he  was 
reaping  in  his  Master's  vineyard,  and  the  number  of  souls 
he  was  leading  in  the  paths  of  truth. 

While  resident  in  Salem,  he  also  wrote  a  series  of 
letters  in  reply  to  a  series  addressed  to  him  by  Abner 
Kneeland,  inquiring  into  the  authenticity  of  the  Scrip- 
tures. The  book  formed  of  the  letters  referred  to  makes 
a  volume  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  pages.  The  first 
edition  was  published  in  Salem,  in  1816,  the  second  in 
Boston,  in  1820.  The  origin  of  these  letters,  which 
created  no  small  degree  of  attention,  at  that  period  espe- 
cially, was  as  follows  :  Rev.  Mr.  Kneeland  having  at 
various  times  expressed  serious  doubts  and  fears  relative 
to  the  genuineness  of  the  holy  Scriptures,  and  the  system 
of  Divine  revelation  therein  contained,  solicited  Mr. 
Ballou  to  enter  into  a  correspondence  with  him  upon  the 
subject,  in  which  Mr.  Kneeland  agreed  to  do  his  utmost 
to  disprove  the  truth  and  authenticity  of  the  Bible,  while 
Mr.  Ballou  should  take  the  opposite  ground,  and  as  stren- 
uously defend  it. 

It  was  thought  that  this  mode  of  discussion  would  be 
of  mutual  benefit  to  them,  and  at  the  time  of  its  com- 
mencement was  designed  solely  for  their  private  use. 
But  they  were  finally  published,  at  the  sohcitation  of 


REMOVES   TO    SALEM,    MASS.  97 

friends,  and  with  the  hope  that  they  might  be  productive 
of  more  extended  good.  These  letters,  which  are  some- 
what lengthy,  and  indeed  necessarily  so  on  the  part  of 
Mr.  Ballou,  who  assumed  the  laboring  oar,  were  always 
written,  as  he  has  told  us,  at  a  single  sitting.  They  are 
highly  valuable,  and  were  more  particularly  so  at  that 
period,  as  forming  a  powerful  chain  of  evidence  in  favor 
of  Christianity,  and  are  characterized,  on  Mr.  Ballou's 
part,  by  a  vigorous  accuracy  and  earnest  desire  after 
truth,  which  prepossesses  the  reader  in  their  favor. 

Mr.  Ballou  knew  very  well  the  misgivings  as  to  the 
truth  of  the  Divine  revelations  by  which  Mr.  Kneeland's 
mind  was  exercised,  and,  notwithstanding  other  pressing 
duties  and  regular  engagements,  he  consented  to  a  discus- 
sion which  must  needs  cost  him  many  hours  of  study  and 
labor,  hoping  thereby  to  lead  one  soul,  at  least,  to  a  full 
and  clear  belief  in  the  gospel  of  Christ.  These  letters 
reached  the  number  of  ten  on  either  side  before  the  cor- 
respondence was  brought  to  a  close,  when  Mr.  Kneeland 
was  compelled  by  the  force  of  evidence  frankly  to  acknowl- 
edge his  entire  satisfaction  and  conversion;  and  having 
found  such  joy  in  believing,  such  relief  at  being  released 
from  the  iron  thraldom  of  doubt  and  fear,  he  was  exceed- 
ingly anxious  to  publish  the  entire  series  of  letters. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  at  the  present  day,  when 
we  have  so  many  excellent  books  to  consult,  and  can  avail 
ourselves  of  the  experience  and  research  of  so  many  able 
minds, —  men  who  have  fought  the  good  fight  of  faith,— 
it  is  a  very  easy  matter  to  sit  down  and  defend  the  gospel 
9 


98  BIOGRAPHY. 

against  the  arguments  of  the  sceptic,  the  ground  being 
already  thoroughly  canvassed  for  us  pro  and  con,  and 
•weapons  keen  and  bright  placed  in  our  very  hands.  But 
Mr.  Ballou  enjoyed  none  of  these  advantages ;  his  tools 
were  wrought  from  the  native  ore,  and  skilled  after  the 
fashion  of  his  own  mind.  Every  line  he  wrote,  every 
opinion  he  advanced,  was  the  result  of  deep  and  careful 
study,  without  the  assistance  of  any  other  book  save  the 
Bible  itself. 

"As  1815  was  the  year  after  the  war  closed,"  says 
Mr.  Ballou,  "all  kinds  of  provisions  were  extremely 
"  dear,  and  my  salary  was  so  poorly  paid,  that  I  could 
"  not  get  money  enough  from  my  friends  to  meet  my 
"  expenses ;  and  during  the  two  years  and  four  months 
"  I  tarried  here,  I  was  compelled  to  spend  about  three 
"  hundred  dollars  more  than  I  received,  of  money  which 
"  I  had  by  me  when  I  came  to  Salem." 

While  resident  in  Salem,  he  applied  himself  with  unre- 
mitting industry  and  diligence  to  his  studies,  devoting 
his  time  wholly  to  writing  upon  the  subject  of  his  faith, 
and  the  exercise  of  his  professional  duties  as  a  minister. 
His  labors  here  were  particularly  blessed  with  success, 
and  the  converts  to  his  church  were  many.  The  Salem 
society  under  his  charge  vastly  increased  in  influence  and 
numbers,  and  Mr.  Ballou  had  reason  to  rejoice  at  the 
very  evident  success  of  his  labors  with  this  people. 
When  he  first  came  to  Salem,  his  doctrine,  even  by 
professed  Uni  versa! ists,  was  thought  to  be  too  radical, 
too  universal,  in  short  too  good ;  but  ere  he  left  them, 


MASS.  99 

they  had  fallen  almost  unconsciously  into  his  mode  of 
belief,  gradually,  step  by  step,  though  the  passage  had 
been  so  easy  that  they  had  not  realized  the  change  until 
they  found  themselves  already  convinced. 

It  was  not  his  practice  to  assail  the  unbeliever  at  once 
with  blunt,  open  refutation  of  his  principles,  nor  to  stag- 
ger him  by  an  array  of  unanswerable  arguments,  but 
realizing  that  a  casual  analogy  often  convinceth  when  the 
mind  will  not  bear  argument,  he  adopted  an  easy  and 
soothing  course  of  reasoning,  and  thus  gradually  and 
easily  sought  his  object.  Thus  was  many  an  otherwise 
hopeless  spirit  turned  from  the  darkness  of  error  to  the 
light  of  truth.  Endeared  to  all  his  acquaintances  by  his 
unostentatious  character,  and  by  his  mild,  patient,  and  pru- 
dent habits,  the  separation  from  his  society  in  Salem 
was  mutually  a  hard  task. 

As  soon  as  it  was  understood  that  Mr.  Ballou  had  been 
talked  of  as  pastor  of  the  Second  Universalist  Society  in 
Boston,  Rev.  Paul  Dean,  of  respectable  and  influential 
standing  in  the  order,  and  settled  in  Boston,  strove  by 
every  manner  of  means  to  defeat  this  purpose.  He  feared 
the  bold,  unflinching,  and  manly  style  of  preaching,  for 
which  Mr.  Ballou  had  already  become  widely  celebrated. 
Himself  a  man  who  avoided  all  sectional  controversy  in 
his  preaching,  he  foresaw  that  the  advent  of  Mr.  Ballou 
in  Boston  would  compel  him  to  come  out  openly  and 
acknowledge  either  that  he  was  a  Universalist  or  that  he 
was  not.  He  was  not  willing  to  risk  his  popularity  in 
the  matter,  and  therefore  strove,  by  letters  and  orally,  to 


100  BIOGRAPHY. 

dissuade  Mr.  Ballou  from  coming  to  Boston,  and  finally 
he  declared  to  him  that  if  he  came  hither  he  should  con- 
sider it  a  breach  of  fellowship,  and  should  ever  after  treat 
him  accordingly. 

Mr.  Ballou  was  not  one  to  be  intimidated  by  threats ;  per- 
sonal fear  was  a  quality  that  he  never  realized.  He  came 
to  Boston,  and  the  sequel  shows  a  result  that  is  perfectly 
satisfactory  to  his  friends.  Mr.  Dean  was  not  prepared 
to  make  any  great  sacrifice  for  the  sake  of  truth ;  it 
was  not  at  that  time  popular  for  him  to  preach  down- 
right Universalism.  The  opinions  of  most  men  are  gov- 
erned by  circumstances,  quite  as  much  as  by  truthful 
evidence ;  but  Mr.  Ballou,  with  a  single  eye  to  truth,  never 
catered  for  the  popular  taste,  never  asked  whether  the 
promulgation  of  this  or  that  great  principle  of  truth 
■would  be  acceptable  and  popular ;  he  had  no  such  policy 
in  his  composition,  but  dealt  only  in  wholesome  truths, 
and  such  as  his  own  heart  had  baptized  in  the  clear,  well- 
ing waters  of  conviction. 

The  editor  of  the  Christian  Freeman^  Rev.  Sylvanus 
Cobb,  not  long  since  published  an  account  of  his  first 
interview  with  Mr.  Ballou,  which  we  subjoin  in  this  con- 
nection, as  being  applicable  in  placing  the  subject  of  the 
controversy,  which  is  well  known  to  have  existed,  between 
Mr.  Ballou  and  Mr.  Dean,  in  a  proper  light.  In  speak- 
ing of  his  first  visit  to  the  city  of  Boston,  from  his  home 
in  Maine,  the  writer  says  :  — 

"  At  this  time  the  scheme  was  in  vogue  with  a  few 
"  brethren,  among  whom  Brs.  Turner  and  Dean  were 


REMOVES   TO    SALEM,  MASS.  101 

''  conspicuous,  for  a  division  of  the  denomination,  and  the 
''  erection  of  a  new  order,  which  it  was  calculated  would 
"  be  the  leading  order,  nearly  swallowing  up  the  other, 
"to  be  entitled  '  Restorationists.'  We  impute  no  evil 
''  motive  to  any  one ;  but  those  on  whom  we  called  before 
"  reaching  Bro.  Ballou,  felt  it  to  be  their  privilege  to  make 
"  the  projected  scheme  the  chief  subject  of  conversation, 
"  and  to  express  much  of  the  feeling  of  dissatisfaction 
"towards  Bro.  Ballou.  AVe  were  made  to  feel  quite  un- 
"  happy;  and  as  we  had  heard  of  Bro.  Ballou  as  a  stern 
"  and  severe  man,  we  expected  to  be  even  more  harassed 
"  with  a  talk  of  'troubles  and  difficulties'  when  in  com- 
"  pany  with  him.  At  length  we  were  introduced  to  his 
"  presence,  and  took  his  friendly  hand.  He  sat  down  by 
"  us,  and  with  much  interest  and  affection  he  inquired 
"  into  our  labors  and  prospects,  and  into  the  interests  of 
"  the  cause  in  Maine.  We  waited  to  bear  him  introduce 
"  the  subject  of  the  '  difficulties,'  but  we  waited  in  vain. 
"  At  length  we  attempted  to  draw  him  out,  by  asking 
"  him  of  the  nature  of  the  '  difficulties  '  among  the  breth- 
"  ren  here.  '  I  am  ignorant,'  said  he,  '  of  any  real  diffi- 
"  culties.  Certain  brethren  are  believers  in  a  limited 
"  future  punishment ;  but  I  cannot  see  that  that  is  any 
"  occasion  for  difficulty.  Certainly  I  know  of  no  reason 
*'  why  I  should  have  any  trouble  with  these  brethren,  or 
"  esteem  them  any  the  less  for  their  seeing  cause  to  believe 
"  as  they  do.  But  if  they  require  me  to  believe  it  as 
"  essential  to  the  Christian  faith,  I  feel  that  it  is  proper 
"  for  me  to  call  on  them  for  the  proof  of  the  doctrine. 
9^ 


102  BIOGKAPHY. 

"  We  cannot  see  with  each  other's  eyes ;  we  must  be  wil- 
"  hng  to  allow  each  other  to  judge  for  himself.  I  love 
"  those  brethren,  and  wish  them  prosperity  and  happi- 
"  ness.'  And  tears  started  from  his  eyes  when  he  spoke. 
"  We  felt  that  he  spoke  from  the  heart.  There  was  no 
"  envy,  no  scheming,  no  party  spirit  about  him.  He 
"  sought  a  knowledge  of  God's  word,  and  would  '  speak 
''  God's  word  faithfully,'  and  accord  the  same  right  to 
''  others. 

*'  And  such  we  have  ever  found  him.  We  have  lived 
"  in  neighborhood  with  him  twenty-four  years,  and  have 
''  found  him  one  of  the  most  modest,  unassuming,  liberal- 
*'  minded  and  true-hearted  men  we  ever  knew.  He  was 
"  always  pained  to  see  one  crowding:  upon  another.  He 
"  would  see  all  working  and  prospering,  and  rejoicing  in 
"  each  other's  prosperity  and  happiness.  May  his  spirit 
"  be  with  us  all." 

We  might  dilate  upon  the  subject  of  this  controversy, 
but  it  is  not  a  congenial  theme.  Suffice  it  to  say,  then, 
that  the  shafts  of  envy  and  ambition  launched  forth 
against  Mr.  Ballou,  were  as  innocent  and  harmless,  as  it 
regarded  him,  as  the  summer  winds.  It  is  true  that  they 
caused  him  anxiety  of  mind,  and  not  a  little  annoyance, 
in  disproving  the  malignant  charges  brought  against  him ; 
but,  in  the  end,  these  tests  only  caused  his  purity  of 
character  to  shine  out  with  more  surpassing  brilliancy. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

SETTLES  IN  BOSTON. 

After  a  peaceful  and  happy  residence  in  Salem,  of  a 
little  more  than  two  years,  Mr.  Ballou  received  a  cordial 
invitation  from  the  Second  Universalist  Society  of  Boston 
to  become  their  pastor.  The  invitation  was  accepted  ; 
and,  in  the  forty-fifth  year  of  his  age,  he  removed  to  this 
city,  and  was  installed  December  15, 1817,  in  the  church 
which  was  built  with  the  avowed  purpose  of  obtaining  his 
ministerial  services  ;  and  here  he  continued  to  preach  to 
the  people  for  over  thirty-five  years.  His  letter  of  accept- 
ance, addressed  to  the  society,  is  as  follows  :  — 

'^  Sir  :  The  call  of  the  Second  Universalist  Society,  in 
''  Boston,  inviting  me  to  the  labors  of  the  Christian  min- 
"  istry  with  them,  together  with  the  liberal  t^rms  which 
"  accompany  said  invitation,  have  been  duly  considered  ; 
*'  and,  after  weio'hinc'  all  the  circumstances  rtlatis^e  to 
"  the  subject,  .so  far  as  my  limited  mind  could  compre- 
''  hend  them,  I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  it  is  my 


104  BIOGRAPHY. 

''  duty  to  accept  their  call  on  the  conditions  therein  stated. 
"I  largely  participate  in  the  'peculiar  pleasure'  afforded 
''  by  the  consideration  of  the  unanimity  of  the  society, 
''  and  entertain  an  humble  hope  that,  ^vith  the  continu- 
"  ance  of  this  harmony,  we  may  long  continue  to  enjoy 
*'  all  spiritual  blessings  in  Christ  Jesus. 

"  The  society's  most  humble  servant  in  Christ, 

"  HosEA  Ballou." 
"  To  John  Brazer,  Esq." 

Rev.  Thomas  Whittemore,  a  devoted,  constant,  and 
consistent  friend  of  Mr.  Ballou,  and  who  was  also  re- 
garded by  the  subject  of  these  memoirs  almost  like  one 
of  his  own  family,  thus  speaks  of  this  period :  — 
"  This  society  had  just  finished  their  house,  the  present 
"  venerable  structure,  on  School-street.  They  never  for 
^'  a  moment  had  a  thought  of  seeking  any  other  pastor 
"  than  the  Rev.  Hosea  Ballou,  if  it  were  possible  to 
''obtain  his  services;  and,  accordingly,  two  months 
"  before  the  house  was  ready  for  dedication,  a  letter  of 
"  inquiry  was  dispatched  to  him,  to  draw  out  his  senti- 
"  ments  in  renrard  to  a  removal  to  Boston,  In  the  mean 
"  time  the  house  was  hurried  on  to  completion.  Rev. 
"  Messrs.  Jones,  of  Gloucester,  Turner,  of  Charlestown, 
"  Ballou,  of  Salem,  and  Dean,  of  Boston,  were  invited 
''  to  join  in  the  dedicatory  services;  Father  Jones  being 
"  invited  to  preach  the  sermon,  and  the  others  to  arrange 
*'  the  remaining  services  at  their  discretion.  The  dedica- 
*'  tion  took  place  on  Wednesday,  October  16.     Mr.  Bal- 


SETTLES   IN   BOSTON.  105 

'  lou  was  not    present,  as  he  was  at  the  time  in  the 
'  country.     On  the  following  Tuesday  a  meeting  of  the 
'  proprietors  was  holden,  and  Mr.  Ballou  was  invited  to 
'  take  the  pastoral  charge  by  a  itnanlnious  vote.     The 
'  salary  was  fixed,  at  first,  at  thirteen  hundred  dollars 
•  per  annum,  to  which  donations  of  fuel  were  occasionally 
'  made.     He  was  installed  on  December  25,  1817.    Eev. 
'  Paul  Dean  preached,  on  the  occasion,  from  Acts  20 :  24. 
'  He  also  gave  the  fellowship  of  the  churches.     Rev.  E. 
'  Turner,   of  Charlestown,   made   the   instalHng   prayer, 
'  and  gave  the  charge.     Rev.  Joshua  Flagg,  who  had 
'  succeeded  Mr.  Ballou  at  Salem,  offered  the  concluding 
'  prayer. 
"  Thus  was  Mr.  Ballou  duly  installed  as  pastor.     The 
congregations  that  attended  on  his  ministry  were  exceed- 
ingly large.     He  soon   became  widely  known  for  his 
eloquence  and  boldness,  and  the  novel  nature  of  the 
subjects  discussed  by  him.     His  preaching  was  of  a 
controversial   and  doctrinal  character.     He   explained, 
'  in  his  discourses,  those  texts  which  had  been  supposed 
'  to  teach  the  doctrine  of  a  judgment  in  the  future  state, 
'  and  endless  torment.     He  was  repeatedly  called  on,  by 
'  letter,  from  inquirers  after  truth,  to  preach  from  par- 
ticular texts  of  this  character ;  and,  as  he  gave  public 
'  notice  of  the  time  when  he  would  explain  such  passages, 
his    audiences  were    immensely  large.     It  was    usual, 
from   Sabbath  to   Sabbath,  to  see  the   meeting-house 
filled,  in  the  forenoon,  so  that  it  was  difficult  to  obtain 
a  seat.     In  the  afternoon,  many  would  be  obliged  to 


106  BIOGRAPHY. 

"  stand,  especially  in  the  galleries,  and  around  the  head 
"of  the  stairs;  and  in  the  evening  the  aisles  Avould  be 
"  crowded,  above  and  below. 

"  For  the  last  six  or  eight  years  preceding  the  rise 
''  of  the  Second  Universalist  Society,  Universalism  had 
''  produced  little  or  no  excitement  in  Boston.  The  First 
"  Society  remained  stationary.  Mr.  Dean,  its  pastor, 
''  preached  little  on  those  subjects  on  which  he  differed 
"  from  other  sects.  In  the  vicinity  of  Boston  there  w^as 
"  no  movement  in  favor  of  Universalism.  There  were 
"  scarcely  ten  Universalist  pastors  in  Massachusetts. 
*'  The  cause  was  evidently  languid.  The  rise  of  the 
"  Second  Universalist  Society  in  Boston,  and  the  removal 
"of  Mr.  Ballou  thither,  produced  a  new  state  of  things. 
"  There  arose  a  commotion  among  the  elements ;  but  the 
"  effect  was  to  purify  the  atmosphere,  and  give  men  a 
"  clearer  and  more  extended  vision.  New  societies,  hold- 
"  ing  Mr.  Ballou' s  sentiments,  soon  began  to  arise  around 
"Boston." 

On  settling  in  Boston,  he  at  once  found  a  host  of  true 
and  solicitous  friends,  whose  interest  in  his  ministry, 
respect  for  his  character,  and  attention  to  his  general 
welfare,  enlisted  in  their  behalf  his  warmest  feelings  of 
regard ;  sentiments  which  were  ever  cherished  by  him  to 
the  last,  and  frequently  recurred  to  at  his  own  fireside, 
and  in  the  quiet  of  his  family  circle.  Exercised  by  a 
realizing  sense  of  this  fact,  the  more  keenly  when  he 
remembers  that  his  father  can  give  oral  form  to  these 
feelings  no  longer,  the  author  of  this  humble  biography 


SETTLES  IN  BOSTON.  107 

has  at  its  commencement  dedicated  it  to  the  subject's 
cherished  friends. 

We  have  thus  given  a  memoir  of  Mr.  Ballou's  hfe  up 
to  the  period  of  his  settlement  in  Boston,  where  he  was 
destined  to  operate  upon  a  more  extended  field  of  action, 
—  -where  his  mental  and  physical  powers,  thoroughly 
trained  and  tested  as  they  had  been,  were  to  be  taxed 
more  heavily  still ;  and  where  he  was  destined  to  build 
for  himself  a  name  that  will  live  in  the  grateful  memory 
of  future  generations,  and  to  erect  for  himself  a  monument 
that  points  further  heavenward  than  eastern  pyramids, — 
the  savor  of  a  truly  Christian  life. 

Immediately  on  his  becoming  settled  in  Boston,  in 
addition  to  the  duties  of  his  pastoral  charge,  and  that  of 
writing  for  two  or  three  religious  periodicals,  Mr.  Ballou 
was  obliged  to  answer  the  frequent  demands  that  poured 
in  upon  him,  from  every  quarter,  to  lecture  and  to  preach 
in  the  numerous  towns  within  ten,  twenty,  and  often  fifty 
miles  of  the  city,  at  a  time  when  the  means  of  communi- 
cation were,  at  best,  but  very  indifierent, —  rendering  it 
necessary  for  him  to  drive  his  own  vehicle,  in  order  to 
reach  the  desired  point  without  loss  of  time.  So  frequent 
and  urgent  were  these  demands  for  his  services,  in  towns 
and  villages  of  New  England,  that  week-days,  as  well  as 
Sundays,  were  occupied  in  holding  forth  to  the  people, 
who  came  from  far  and  near  to  hear  him.  Not  unfre- 
quently  were  several  consecutive  days  thus  employed ; 
portions  of  the  night  even  being  improved  in  traveling 
between  the  several  places  when  at  a  great  distance  apart, 


108  BIOGRAPHY. 

and  sleep,  or  rest  of  any  sort,  being  but  sparingly  indulged 
in.  But  so  zealous  was  he  in  tlie  glorious  cause  that 
filled  his  whole  soul, —  so  thoughtless  of  self,  and  so 
wedded  to  his  Master's  business, —  that  his  own  labors 
seemed  to  him  as  nothing ;  and  neither  his  energies  nor 
his  spirits  were  wearied  for  a  single  moment.  The  bow 
of  his  mind  and  body  both  seemed  ever  strung  and  bent, 
yet  never  to  lose  their  elasticity.  The  amount  of  actual 
physical  labor  which  he  thus  performed  can  hardly  be 
estimated  ;  but  certain  it  is  that  he  must  have  been  almost 
miraculously  sustained,  to  have  endured  so  much  fatigue 
"without  most  serious  injury. 

"  Soon  after  coming  to  Boston,"  says  Mr.  Ballou, 
''  opposition  to  my  Unitarian  views,  and  to  the  way  in 
"  which  I  explained  many  important  passages  of  Scrip- 
"  ture,  put  on  a  serious  aspect.  Most  of  this  opposition 
"  was  exercised  by  professed  Universalist  preachers. 
"  There  was  much  hypocrisy  and  low  cunning  set  to  work 
"in  order  to  check  my  success;  but,  though  this  was  a 
"  source  of  much  grief  to  my  heart,  it  was  the  means  of 
''  caUing  into  action  all  my  resources,  which  I  found  it 
"  necessary  to  put  in  requisition  for  the  defence  of  the 
"  truth.  All  this  resulted  in  good.  My  editorial  duties, 
"  my  necessarily  long  sermons  three  times  on  every  Sab- 
"  bath,  giving  evening  lectures  at  home  and  in  the  neigh- 
"  boring  towns,  tried  to  the  utmost  my  physical  powers 
''  of  endurance.  With  all  these  engagements,  I  was 
"  writing  and  publishing  the  two  volumes  of  my  Lecture 
"  Sermons,  and  my  Select  Sermons,  which  proved  too 


SETTLES   IN   BOSTON.  109^ 

"much  for  my  strength,  and  I  brought  on  a  weakness 
"  in  mj  left  side  that  has  affected  me  for  years." 

The  weakness  here  referred  to  was  doubtless  caused  by 
sitting  for  hours  together  at  his  writing-table  in  his  study, 
with  only  such  brief  intervals  as  were  necessarily  con- 
sumed in  takino^  his  fruo;al  meals.  At  such  times  he 
partook  very  sparingly  of  any  kind  of  nourishment, 
declaring,  when  solicited  on  this  point,  that  his  brain  was 
clearer,  his  mind  more  vigorous,  when  he  ate  but  little, 
than  when  he  allowed  himself  fully  to  satisfy  his  appetite. 
Durinor  the  hours  devoted  to  writino;  he  was  never  dis- 
turbed  ;  his  children  never  for  one  moment  forgot  that  he 
was  thus  engaged  ;  and  though  they  might  pass  through 
his  apartment,  still  it  was  with  a  careful  step  and  noise- 
less way,  that  showed  their  constant  consideration  for  one 
whom  they  so  much  venerated.  When  he  was  thus 
engaged,  for  the  last  thirty  years,  having  become  relieved 
of  the  immediate  domestic  cares  of  her  family,  his  wife 
always  sat  with  him,  sewing,  knitting,  or  reading,  but 
never  interrupting  him.  Thus  they  grew,  year  by  year, 
when  he  was  in  the  house,  more  and  more  inseparable, 
and  the  tender  regard  of  each  seemed  to  increase  for  the 
other  as  year  after  year  whitened  their  venerable. locks. 

Concerning  the  period  of  his  early  settlement  in  Boston, 
Rev.  Sylvanus  Cobb  says  :  — "  When  Mr.  Ballou  entered 
"  upon  his  labors  here,  benignantly  warring  upon  the 
'•'  hurtful  errors  which  enslaved  and  paralyzed  the  common 
"  mind,  and  elucidating  those  prominent  gospel  truths 
"  which  are  the  bread  of  life  to  the  soul,  there  was  an 
10 


110  BIOGRAPHY. 

*  extensive  movement  of  mind  in  the  city,  and  in  the 
'  region  round  about,  far  and  near.  When  the  Twenty- 
'  six  Lectures,  pubhshed  by  Henry  Bowen,  were  in  the 
'  process  of  delivery,  the  church  was  usually  filled  an 
'  hour  before  the  set  time  of  beojinnin<y,  and  multitudes 
'  would  be  going  away  who  could  not  find  entrance.  He 
'  had  done  much  before  this,  by  his  ministry  in  other 
'  places,  and  the  publication  of  his  Notes  on  the  Parables, 
'  Treatise  on  Atonement,  and  controversy  with  Robinson, 
'  to  advance  the  cause  of  truth ;  but  he  was  now  provi- 
'  dentially  placed  at  a  commanding  stand-point,  a  central 
'  position,  the  commercial  emporium  of  New  England, 
'  whence  his  influence  went  out  through  all  the  land. 
'  Business  men,  from  different  parts,  who  had  occasion  to 
'  be  in  Boston  over  the  Sabbath,  would  go  in  at  School- 
'  street  church,  become  convinced  by  the  able  expound- 
'  er's  arguments,  go  home,  taking  with  them  some  of  his 
'  publications,  and  commence  a  work  in  their  respective 
'neighborhoods,  which,  in  many  cases,  resulted  in  the 
'formation  of  societies." 

As  a  sample  of  the  spirit  he  was  forced  to  encounter, 
and  the  animosity  felt  against  Universalists  generally,  and 
their  teachings,  by  the  clergy  of  other  persuasions,  we 
relate  the  following  anecdote.  Being  in  the  town  of 
Mattapoisett,  Mass.,  during  one  of  his  short  journeys 
into  the  neighboring  country  to  fulfil  professional  engage- 
ments, Mr.  Ballou  found  that  he  must  stop  there  for  the 
night.  It  was  soon  known  in  the  village  that  he  was  to 
remain  for  this  period,  and  he  was  at  once  waited  upon 


SETTLES   IN  BOSTON.  Ill 

by  a  committee  chosen  for  the  purpose,  and  informed  that 
the  town's  people  were  exceedingly  anxious  to  hear  him 
preach,  and  that  permission  had  been  obtained  for  him  to 
hold  forth  in  the  Orthodox  meeting-house,  if  agreeable  to 
himself  Mr.  Ballou  cheerfully  consented  to  their  wishes, 
and  the  people  were  notified  accordingly.  It  is  proper  to 
state,  that  several  among  those  Avho  invited  Mr.  Ballou  to 
preach  here,  w^ere  themselves  large  share-holders  in  the 
meeting-house,  and  in  two  instances  members  of  the 
church.  Notwithstanding  all  this,  when  Mr.  Ballou 
came  to  the  meeting-house,  not  anticipating  the  least 
opposition  to  his  purpose,  he  was  met  at  the  door  by  the 
Orthodox  clergyman  then  officiating  here,  and  who 
positively  forbade  his  entrance.  In  vain  did  Mr.  Ballou 
attempt  calmly  to  reason  with  him ;  still  the  excited 
pastor  insisted  most  vociferously  that  he  should  not  enter, 
although  fully  informed  of  all  the  circumstances.  Nor 
would  he  yield  until  at  length  he  was  absolutely  dragged 
away  forcibly  by  his  own  friends. 

Erasmus,  the  reformer  of  the  fifteenth  century,  ''who 
stemmed  the  w^ild  torrent  of  a  barbarous  age,"  was  not 
more  strongly  opposed  by  the  bigoted  Catholics  of  his 
day,  who  charged  him  with  having  "  laid  the  egg  that 
Luther  hatched,"  than  was  Hosea  Ballou  by  the  partial- 
ists  of  his  times.  Particularly  was  this  the  case  during 
the  early  and  middle  period  of  his  public  labors.  The 
reformation  begun  by  Luther  has  been  well  termed  "an 
"insurrection  of  the  human  mind  against  the  absolute 
"  power  of  spiritual  order."     Its  earliest  fruit  was  the 


112  BIOGRAPHY. 

vigorous  l3ut  narrow  belief  of  Puritanism  ;  then  followed 
the  more  liberal  creeds  of  the  subsequent  period ;  but  it 
seemed  to  be  left  for  ]\Ir.  Bullou  to  strike  out  and  illus- 
trate the  doctrine  of  perfect  freedom  through  Christ,  of 
entire  impartiality  and  free  grace,  which  the  doctrine  of 
universal  salvation  inculcates. 

Relative  to  the  bigotry  and  unreasonable  spirit  often 
evinced  towards  the  subject  of  this  biography,  and  the 
cause  he  advocated,  we  are  reminded  in  this  connection 
of  another  anecdote,  which  is  authentic,  and  which  the 
subject  of  these  memoirs  related  to  his  family. 

Not  long  after  Mr.  Ballou's  settlement  in  Boston,  he 
received  a  pressing  invitation  to  visit  the  island  of 
Nautucket.  The  inconvenience  of  communication  between 
the  island  and  the  main  land  was  considerable,  but  he 
consented,  and  passed  some  ten  days  there,  preaching 
every  successive  day  and  evening  to  large  and  interested 
audiences,  creating  a  very  earnest  movement  in  the 
matter  of  religion.  On  his  return,  arriving  at  New  Bed- 
ford, he  took  the  stage  coach  for  Boston,  and  in  it  found 
but  one  other  person.  Scarcely  had  the  journey  com- 
menced, when  his  fellow-passenger  opened  the  conversa- 
tion by  saying, — 

''  You  are  just  from  the  island,  I  suppose?  " 

"Yes,  sir,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Well,  they  say  old  Ballou  is  over  there,  preaching 
his  heresy.     Did  you  see  him  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  saw  him,"  was  the  calm  reply. 

"  Well,  he 's  a  rough  old  fellow.     I  don't  like  him.'* 


SETTLES   IN   BOSTON.  113 

''  Why  not?  "  asked  Mr.  Ballou. 

*'  Because  he  preaches  that  all  men  will  be  saved  and 
"  go  to  heaven  in  their  sins,  and  no  man  in  his  senses  can 
''beheve  that." 

"  But,  sir,  did  you  ever  hear  him  preach  ?  " 

''  No ;  I  hope  not,"  said  the  man. 

"Then  you  maybe  misinformed  as  to  what  he  does 
"preach,"  said  Mr.  Ballou,  mildly.  "Now  I  think  he 
"would  say,  if  he  were  here,  that  he  did  not  believe  nor 
"preach  as  you  have  represented." 

"  But  what  does  he  beheve,  then?  "  said  the  stranger, 
somewhat  earnestly. 

"  I  think  he  would  say  that  sinners  are  to  be  saved 
"/roTTi  their  sins,  not  i?i  their  sins.  Christ  came  to  save 
"the  world  from  sin,  not  in  sin  ;  and  furthermore  we  are 
"  told  in  the  Scriptures  that  '  he  that  is  dead  is  free  from 
"  sin,'  and  he  that  is  freed  from  sin  must  surely  be  holy, 
"and  consequently  happy." 

"  Sir,  if  I  may  be  so  bold,"  said  the  stranger,  after 
looking  for  a  moment  somewhat  critically,  "  where  do  you 
"  live  when  at  home  7  " 

"I  live  in  Boston,  sir."  , 

"  Whose  church  do  you  attend  7  " 

"Mr.  Ballou's  church,  sir." 

"  What  is  your  name  ?  " 

"My  name  is  Ballou,"  he  replied,  pleasantly. 

The  man  was  of  course  confounded.  He  stammered 
forth  some  excuse;  but  though  he  listened  to  Mr.  Ballou's 
kindly-meant  remarks  with  the  utmost  attention,  yet  he 
10^ 


114  BIOGRAPHY. 

was  evidently  very  ill  at  ease,  and,  watching  his  oppor- 
tunity, left  the  stage  at  the  next  stopping -place. 

By  careful  study,  aided  by  his  natural  quickness  of 
conception  and  vigorous  powers  of  mind,  he  had,  without 
other  assistance  than  that  of  books,  acquired  a  practical 
knowledge  of  the  Greek  and  Hebrew  languages,  which 
greatly  assisted  him  in  his  profession,  by  enabling  him  to 
translate  the  most  important  passages  from  the  original 
Scriptures,  and  thus  to  throw  light  upon  many  points 
that  had  heretofore  been  in  some  degree  shrouded  in 
mystery,  by  the  one-sided  and  partial  translation  given  in 
our  own  version  of  the  Bible.  At  the  present  day  it  is 
well  known  that  our  common  translation  of  the  Scrip- 
tures is  deficient  in  several  instances,  and  this  too  at  the 
most  important  and  most  critical  passages.  This  being 
the  case,  Mr.  Ballou  found  the  power  of  translating  for 
himself  to  be  of  the  utmost  importance  as  an  aid  to  repel 
false  argument,  as  well  as  being  a  matter  of  much 
personal  satisfaction  and  enjoyment. 

*' At  different  times,  and  for  several  years,"  says  Mr. 
Ballou,  in  reference  to  this  subject,  "I  have  attempted  to 
"solve  peculiar  passages  of  Scripture,  which  were  so 
"  difficult  to  understand  as  to  lead  me  to  question  the 
''  correctness  of  their  reading  from  the  original.  In 
''order  to  do  this,  I  have  studied  Greek,  and  have  had 
''  some  aid  from  Greek  scholars  and  Greek  lexicons,  and 
"  have  consulted  various  commentators  ;  possessed  myself 
"of  the  Septuagint,  or  Greek  Testament,  and  other 
"  Greek  works.     With  all  these  helps  and  efforts,  I  have 


SETTLES   IN   BOSTON.  115 

"been  enabled  to  satisfy  myself  relative  to  any  particu- 
"  lar  passage.  I  have  found  but  little  benefit  from  these 
''means  in  regard  to  the  Old  Testament:  in  respect 
"  to  the  New,  I  have  often  been  assisted,  and  found  that 
''  my  little  knowledge  of  Greek  has  been  more  useful. 
"  For  similar  ends  and  purposes  I  obtained  a  Hebrew 
"Bible,  lexicon,  grammar,  etc.;  but,  though  I  have 
"bestowed  not  a  little  labor  on.  the  Hebrew,  my  other 
"  avocations  and  cares  have  prevented  any  great  degree 
"  of  proficiency,  though  I  have  experienced  much  aid  and 
"  assistance  in  elucidating  many  points.  I  might  say 
"  about  as  much  of  my  Latin  Bible,  lexicon,  grammar, 
"  and  reader.  I  have  made  some  considerable  use  of  all 
"  these  books,  and  have  given  many  of  my  leisure  hours 
"  to  the  Hebrew,  Greek  and  Latin  languages,  but  I  pro- 
"  fess  to  know  so  little  of  them  that  it  is  hardly  worth 
"naming;  though  I  must  acknowledge  I  have  found 
"  them  of  considerable  use  when  some  arrogant  disputant 
"  should  think  to  silence  me  by  an  appeal  to  the  original. 
"  But  it  is  a  fact  that  I  have  never  met  with  many  college- 
"  learned  ministers  who  appeared  to  have  retained  much 
"  of  their  Greek,  if  indeed  they  ever  had  much.  I  think 
"it  would  require  no  little  study  and  observation  to 
"  determine  the  question,  which  amounts  to  the  most,  the 
"  benefit  which  the  public  gain  by  the  extra  learning  of 
"  their  clergy,  or  the  imposition  they  suffer  by  estimating 
"that  learning  above  its  value." 

This  last  reference  should  not  be  misconstrued  by  the 
reader,  as  conveying  the  idea  that  the  subject  of  this 


116  BIOGRAPHY. 

biography  was  opposed  in  any  way  to  education,  or  educa- 
tional movements.  Those  who  knew  him  best  will  bear 
ready  testimony  to  the  contrary.  Indeed,  his  own  strug- 
gles in  obtaining  knowledge  had  given  him  a  just  estimate 
of  the  true  value  of  such  conveniences  as  should  facilitate 
the  dissemination  of  intelligence  far  and  wide.  "When  I 
"  look  about  me,"  he  says,  "and  contrast  the  great  ira- 
"  provements  in  the  means  for  gaining  knowledge,  — when 
"  I  behold  the  youth  of  to-day  and  remember  the  youth 
"of  my  own  boyhood,  —  I  am  struck  with  the  contrast 
"  that  facts  present  relative  to  education.  I  am  also  ren- 
"dered  thankful  to  a  Divine  Providence,  which  has  been 
"  pleased  to  advance  the  improvement  in  mental  culture 
"  and  the  facilities  for  learning,  in  an  equal  degree  with  the 
"surprising  advancements  which  have  been  accomplished 
"  in  the  arts  and  sciences.  Few  are  so  poor  or  lowly 
"  now  that  they  may  not  enjoy  the  advantages  of  schools 
"  and  able  teachers,  and  I  may  add  that  few  there  are 
"who  do  not  avail  themselves  of  the  rich  opportunity 
"  which  is  offered  them  for  storing  their  minds  with 
"knowledge,  and  thus  preparing  themselves  for  useful 
"  members  of  society.  Half  a  century  since,  the  case  was 
"  very  different;  schools  were  little  thought  of  among  the 
"  poor,  and  children  in  the  country  could  seldom  be 
"spared  from  home  to  attend  those  that  were  occasionally 
"opened.  Yet  I  am  satisfied  that  the  advantages  which 
"  were  offered  at  that  time  were  even  more  assiduously  im- 
"  proved  than  they  are  at  this  period.  This,  however,  was 
"  but  natural,  under  the  circumstances."     No  man  put  a 


SETTLES  IN  BOSTON.  117 

higher  estimate  upon  knowledge  than  he  did,  but  it  was 
useful,  practical  knowledge  that  he  valued.  He  had  no 
respect  for  mere  titles  and  college  honors.  He  had  seen 
the  eclat  of  a  college  diploma  go  further  with  many  sim- 
ple people  than  a  sound  argument  or  the  possession  of 
sterling  wisdom  would  have  done,  and  it  is  not  surprising 
that  the  observation  of  such  weakness  should  have  led  him 
to  speak  out,  as  we  have  seen  him  do  in  this  connection. 
He  may  have  felt  the  remark,  too,  which  his  opponents 
sometimes  sneeringly  made  of  him,  that  he  never  enjoyed 
a  classical  or  collegiate  education. 

We  have  a  few  words  to  say  relative  to  this  reflec- 
tion. Now,  we  solemnly  believe,  and  are  prepared  to 
argue,  that  a  collegiate  education  would  have  materially 
detracted  from  his  usefulness.  A  scholastic  or  classic 
course  of  study  seems  to  unfit  men  in  a  great  degree  for 
active  life.  The  practical  too  often  becomes  merged  in 
the  ideal,  and  the  mind  grows  effeminate.  A  theoretical 
knowledge  of  human  nature  is  imbibed,  and  we  are  led  to 
contemplate  our  fellow-men  through  a  false  medium  ;  for 
essayists  write  of  men  as  they  should  be,  but  rarely  as 
they  are.  Mr.  Ballou  was  acknowledged  by  all  who  knew 
him,  to  possess  a  remarkable  degree  of  knowledge  con- 
cerning human  nature,  but  it  was  gathered  from  men,  not 
books,  from  experience,  —  Time's  free  school,  —  not  from 
theory.  No  other  kind  of  knowledge  would  have  fitted 
him  for  the  pecuhar  path  he  was  born  to  pursue,  A 
pioneer  should  be  what  he  was ;  a  follower,  the  roads  once 
cleared,  and  the   track   made   smooth,    might,    perhaps. 


118  BIOGRAPHY. 

without  danger,  be  less  practical  and  more  imaginative. 
Education,  to  be  truly  useful,  should  be  unequalled  in  its 
ability  to  instruct  us  in  the  things  about  us.  and  to 
strengthen  us  for  the  duties  that  lie  in  our  path  of  life. 
The  true  being,  end,  and  aim  of  all  study  should  be,  "to 
improve  men  in  the  best  reason  of  living,"  while  any 
learning  that  aims  above  the  practical  interests  of  life 
is  comparatively  unimportant.     Even  in  the  ministry, 

*'  Church  ladders  are  not  always  mounted  best 
By  learned  clerks  and  Latinists  professed." 

"  That  learning  which  makes  us  acquainted  with  our- 
"  selves,"  says  Mr.  Ballou,  "with  the  powers  and  faculties 
"  of  the  human  mind,  with  divine  truth,  which  is  plainly 
"  revealed,  with  its  power  on  the  mind  and  heart,  with 
"  the  concatenations  of  cause  and  eflfect,  and  to  understand 
"  our  every-day  duty,  which  grows  out  of  our  wants  and 
"  the  wants  of  those  about  us,  is  learning  of  a  better 
"quality  than  that  which  only  enables  us  to  call  things 
"  by  different  names,  without  giving  us  a  knowledge  of 
"  their  natural  qualities  either  for  good  or  evil." 

The  main  characteristic  of  Mr.  Ballou's  habit  of  mind 
was  that  of  looking  at  all  things  in  a  practical  point  of 
view.  The  importance  and  real  value  he  attached  to 
things  were  deduced  from  his  estimate  of  their  use. 
He  regarded  life  as  made  up  of  constantly  recurring 
duties,  and  his  appreciation  of  principles,  of  religion 
or  philosophy,  was  carefully  regulated  by  this  standard, 
as  to  the  application  they  bore    to   every-day  matters. 


SETTLES   IN   BOSTON.  119 

The  great  end  of  all  acquirements  should  be  the  ability 
to  discharge  more  effectually  our  duties  as  men  and 
citizens.  "  He  who  is  not  a  better  neighbor,  brother, 
"  friend,  and  citizen,"  says  an  eminent  writer,  "because 
"  of  his  superior  knowledge,  may  very  well  doubt  whether 
"his  knowledge  is  really  superior  to  the  ignorance  of  the 
"  unlettered  many  around  him."  Or,  to  state  this  great 
truth  more  in  brief,  a  man  knows  no  more  to  any  purpose 
than  he  practises. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

COMMENCES    THE   UNIVERSALIST   MAGAZINE. 

On  the  third  of  July,  1819,  Mr.  Ballou  commenced 
the  publication  of  the  Universalist  Magazine,  in  connec- 
tion with  a  practical  printer,  —  Mr.  Henry  Bowen.  As 
usual  in  every  enterprise  wherein  he  embarked,  he  entered 
into  the  purpose  and  plan  of  the  paper  with  all  his  heart, 
its  avowed  object  being  the  more  extended  dissemination 
of  the  gospel  of  truth,  and  the  elucidation  of  Christ  and 
his  mission  on  earth.  It  will  be  observed  that  in  what- 
ever new  position  we  find  the  subject  of  these  memoirs,  it 
is  secondary  to,  or  rather  in  furtherance  of,  his  Master's 
business ;  he  could  have  entered  into  no  other  pursuit, 
could  have  been  contented  and  happy  in  no  other  occupa- 
tion. It  was  meat  and  drink  to  him,  it  was  the  very 
breath  he  drew,  and  the  only  great  object  and  purpose  of 
his  life-long  career. 

The  object  of  the  Magazine,  as  stated  in  the  editor's 
salutatory  article,  was  to  discuss  the  principles  of  doc- 
trine, religion,  and  morality,  and  all  articles  calculated  to 


COMMENCES   THE   UNIVEESALIST   MAGAZINE.      121 

promote  improvement  in  these  essential  matters  would 
be  freely  admitted  into  its  columns.  "  The  Universalist 
"  Magazine  invites  the  sentiments  of  different  denomina- 
''  tions,"  says  the  editor,  "  to  evince  themselves  to  the 
"  best  advantage,  clothed  in  their  most  simple  light,  and 
"  shining  in  their  purest  lustre,  that  the  mind  of  the 
"  reader  may  be  able  to  know  where  to  bestow  a  justifia- 
"  ble  preference."  Those  persons  laboring  in  their  minds 
under  difficulties  and  doubts  concerning  any  passage  of 
Scripture,  were  urged  to  communicate  the  same  to  the 
Magazine,  where  they  would  be  publicly  answered,  and 
thus  many  might  reap  the  advantage  of  the  queries  and 
the  answer.  ' '  All  articles  calculated  to  elevate  the  mind 
"  to  the  contemplation  of  divine  things,  to  reduce  haugh- 
"  tinesSj  to  humble  pride,  to  exalt  the  Divine  Being,  to 
"endear  the  Saviour,  to  cultivate  piety,  to  admonish,  to 
"  warn,  or  to  justly  rebuke,  to  administer  comfort  and 
"  consolation,  will  be  gratefully  received,  and  as  speedily 
''  as  convenient  communicated  to  the  public."  These 
were  the  main  objects,  and  this  the  plan  of  the  paper,  and 
to  which  the  editor  strictly  adhered.  Some  of  the  strong- 
est arguments  in  favor  of  universal  salvation,  which  ever 
emanated  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Ballou,  were  first  printed 
in  this  paper,  and  the  influence  it  exerted  was  too  evi- 
dent not  to  challenge  the  attention  of  both  friends  and 
foes  at  that  period. 

The  Universalist  Magazine  was  destined  to  attain  to 
the  most  extended  popularity,  and  proved  to  be  of  emi- 
nent service  to  the  cause  which  was  so  ably  treated  upou; 
11 


122  BIOGRAPHY. 

in  its  columns,  each  number  for  a  series  of  years  contain- 
ing an  essay  upon  some  important  passage  of  the  holy 
text,  -witli  the  original  construction  as  put  upon  it  by  Mr. 
Ballon,  besides  the  elaborate  reviewal  of  numerous  dis- 
courses and  articles  which  appeared  in  other  religious 
magazines,  opposed  to  Universalism.  The  paper  was 
issued  weekly,  and  drew  very  largely  upon  his  time  and 
pen.  In  his  editorial  capacity,  even  as  early  as  this 
period,  when  a  systematic  effort  in  the  cause  of  temper- 
ance had  scarcely  been  thought  of,  and  the  subject  was 
seldom  if  ever  referred  to  in  public,  we  find  some  forcible 
articles  from  him  upon  this  subject. 

This  spirit  was  strictly  in  accordance  with  his  private 
life  and  habits.  Living  at  a  period  when  it  was  univer- 
sally customary  to  offer  a  guest  or  caller  a  glass  of  wine, 
let  him  come  at  what  hour  of  the  day  he  might,  and  when 
the  decanters  and  glasses  always  stood  invitingly  upon 
the  side-board,  yet  he  never  used  ardent  spirit  as  a  bev- 
erage, never  partook  of  it  at*  all,  even  in  after  years,  when 
perhaps  a  partial  stimulant  might  have  been  of  physical 
benefit  to  him,  because  of  a  fixed  principle  in  his  own 
mind  concerning  its  pernicious  effects.  But,  as  we  have 
before  intimated,  this  temperate  habit  was  by  no  moans 
confined  to  ardent  spirit  alone ;  the  same  abstemiousness 
characterized  his  daily  meal.  He  partook  only  of  the 
simplest  food,  and  of  that  sparingly.  This  excellent  habit 
grew  to  be  a  second  nature  to  him.  and  in  all  places  and 
under  all  circumstances  was  always  exercised. 

In  connection  with  essays,  leading  articles,  reviews  and 


COMMENCES   THE   UNIVERSALIST   MAGAZINE.      123 

sermons,  which  he  furnished  for  the  Magazine,  he  also 
contributed  many  fugitive  poems  to  fill  the  poet's  corner. 
It  should  be  remembered  that  they  were  generally  written 
at  a  few  moments'  warning  in  his  sanctum,  and  in  answer 
to  the  printer's  call.  All  of  them  are,  however,  indica- 
tive and  characteristic  of  the  spirit  and  state  of  mind 
which  possessed  his  heart.  The  following  piece,  taken  at 
random,  is  a  sample. 

IMMORTALITY. 

*•  That  orient  beam  which  cheers  the  morn. 

And  drives  the  murky  gloom  away, 
Through  trackless  ether  swiftly  borne,  » 

To  welcome  in  the  infont  day, 
Reminds  me  of  the  heavenly  light. 

Whose  rays,  dispersing  error's  gloom. 
Open  to  man  a  glory  bright, 

In  a  fair  world  beyond  the  tomb. 

Those  varying  scenes  of  beauty  fair, 

Which  welcome  in  the  youthful  spring  ; 
The  blooming  fields,  the  fragrant  air, 

The  leafy  groves  and  birds  that  sing, 
Remind  me  of  that  promised  day, 

When  from  the  dead  mankind  shall  rise. 
As  pure  as  light,  and  wing  their  way 

To  spring  eternal  in  the  skies." 

For  some  years  Mr.  Ballou  continued  as  sole  editor  of 
the  Magazine,  in  addition  to  his  other  writings,  and  the 
ever  pressing  duties  of  his  profession.  After  gaining  a 
firm  footing,  this  publication  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Rev.  Thomas  Whittemore,  an  able  and  zealous  man,  who 


124  BIOGRAPHY. 

is  still  the  editor  and  proprietor.  Mr.  Ballou  continued 
to  write  for  its  columns  regularly  for  more  than  thirty 
years.  Mr.  Whittemore  has  changed  or  added  to  its 
original  title,  so  that  it  is  now  known  as  the  Trumpet  and 
Universalist  Magazine,  one  of  the  most  largely  circulated 
and  popular  publications  in  the  whole  denomination. 

During  the  year  1819  and  the  year  preceding  it,  Mr. 
Ballou  had  occasion  to  make  several  replies,  in  pamphlet 
form,  to  reviews  of  his  sermons  which  he  was  at  that  time 
delivering  before  the  Second  Universalist  Society,  and 
which  he  was  induced  to  write  out  and  publish,  by  their 
request.  The  reviews  here  referred  to  were  written  by 
the  Rev.  Timothy  Merrit,  a  Methodist  minister  of  this 
city.  In  the  year  1820,  Mr.  Ballou  published  a  pam- 
phlet of  some  length,  entitled  "  Strictures  on  a  published 
Sermon,  by  Dr.  Channing."  During  this  year  he  also 
compiled  a  collection  of  hymns,  for  the  use  of  the  denomi- 
nation generally,  but  more  especially  for  the  convenience 
of  the  School-street  Society,  with  which  he  was  connected. 
This  collection  contained  about  Jifty  original  hymns  from 
his  own  pen,  and  is  the  second  book  of  the  kind  he  pub- 
lished, the  first  being  issued  while  he  resided  in  Bar- 
nard, Vt. 

It  was  about  this  period  that  the  following  incident 
occurred,  and  which  we  give  herewith  in  Mr.  Ballou' s 
own  words :  — 

"  By  the  following  anecdote  it  may  be  seen  into  what 
*'  inconsistencies  men  are  liable  to  be  drawn  by  an 
*'  intense  desire  to  maintain  favorite  Sentiments.     I  had 


COMMENCES  THE   UNIVERSALIST  MAGAZINE.      125 

'  an  appointment  to  preach  a  lecture  in  the  town  of  Can- 
'  ton,  Mass.,  where  Universalism  w\is  quite  new,  and 
'  where  there  were  but  few  who  beheved  it.  At  th^ 
'  time  appointed  I  was  there,  and  among  the  many  who 
'  were  present  as  hearers,  was  a  Methodist  minister, 
'  whom  before  I  had  never  seen.  After  our  introduc- 
'  tion,  he  very  civilly  asked  me  if  I  was  willing,  after  I 
'  got  through  my  discourse,  that  he  should  have  the  lib- 
'erty  of  offering  some  remarks  in  relation  to  it.  I 
'  replied  that  I  should  have  no  objections  to  his  having 
'  that  liberty,  reserving  to  myself  the  right  to  reply  to 
'  his  remarks.  To  this  he  agreed.  As  I  knew  my  hear- 
'  ers  had  assembled  with  an  expectation  of  hearing  the 
'  doctrine  of  Universalism  held  forth,  I  took  for  my  text 
'  a  passage  which  seemed  to  me  a  strong  one  in  favor  of 
'  the  doctrine  :  First  Tim.  2  :  4,  —  '  Who  will  have  all 
'  men  to  be  saved,  and  to  come  unto  the  knowledge  of 
'the  truth.'  In  my  discourse,  I  relied  on  the  will  of 
'  God  as  the  foundation  of  my  belief  in  the  final  salva- 
'  tion  of  all  men.  My  sermon  was  lengthy,  and  I  en- 
'  deavored  to  strengthen  my  arguments,  as  well  as  I 
'  could,  by  many  scriptures  and  various  illustrations,  but 
•  still  relied  on  the  will  of  God  as  the  foundation  on 
'  which  stood  the  superstructure  I  raised.  When  I  had 
'got  through,  I  signified  to  the  congregation  that  our 
'  worthy  brother,  the  Methodist  minister,  desired  to  make 
'  some  remarks  on  my  discourse,  and  that  I  hoped  they 
would  candidly  listen  to  what  he  had  to  say. 
'•He  then  rose  and  remarked  on  various  points  of 
11* 


126  BIOGRAPHY. 

"  my  arguments,  allowing  their  justness  and  propriety. 
"' But,' said  he,  'as  the  conclusions  which  have  been 
'''drawn  in  favor  of  the  salvation  of  all  men  rest  entirely 
"on  the  will  of  God,  if  we  can  prove  that  God's  will  is 
"not  done,  in  many  instances  which  may  be  named,  it 
"follows  necessarily  that  the  doctrine  contended  for  may 
"  not  be  true.'  This  he  then  labored  to  make  out.  Now, 
"feeling  confident  that  he  had  shaken  my  foundation  in 
"  the  minds  of  our  hearers,  he  proceeded  to  quote  pas- 
"  sages  upon  which  he  relied  to  prove  the  endless  misery 
"of  the  wicked.  When  he  had  got  through  and  sat 
"  down,  I  arose  and  told  the  people  that  I  knew  no  better 
"way  to  answer  to  what  our  brother  had  urged,  than  to 
"allow  that  he  had  refuted  the  doctrine  of  the  salvation 
"of  all  men  by  proving  the  failure  of  God's  will  in 
"  many  instances  ;  and  this  being  granted,  it  also  must 
"be  granted  that  God's  will  in  regard  to  the  endless 
"misery  of  sinners  might  fail  of  being  accomplished 
"also  !  This  reply  came  so  suddenly  on  the  minds  of 
"  the  congregation  that  it  brought  them  on  their  feet,  and 
"the  aspect  which  they  presented  was  so  peculiar  as  to 
"abash  our  brother,  and  induce  him  to  say  something 
"more,  which  the  people  did  not  stop  to  hear.  He  then 
"  turned  to  me,  and  said  that  he  did  not  mean  what  I 
"  had  stated  to  the  audience.  I  told  him  in  reply  that 
"  what  I  had  to  do  with,  was  what  he  had  said." 

This  is  but  an  example  of  the  various  incidents, 
controversies,  and  adventures  that  he  was  constantly 
encountering  on  his  frequent  missions  into  the  country ; 


COMMENCES   THE   UNIVERSALIST   MAGAZINE.      127 

vicissitudes  that  taught  him  much  of  human  nature,  and 
rendered  him  ever  prompt  and  ready  in  reply,  familiar- 
ized him  with  various  temperaments,  dispositions,  and 
phases  of  character,  and  thus  enabling  him  to  speak  and 
act  more  understandingly  when  again  assailed  in  a  like 
manner,  as  well  as  to  put  his  experience  to  other  avail- 
able use. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1821  and  the  beginning 
of  '22,  Mr.  Ballou  passed  a  considerable  period  in  the 
cities  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  which  places  he 
was  induced  to  visit  by  the  united  invitation  of  the  seve- 
ral societies  in  these  two  cities.  While  in  the  latter 
place,  he  delivered  eleven  sermons,  which  the  societies 
procured  a  stenographer  to  transcribe  in  short-hand,  as 
delivered  extemporaneously  from  the  pulpit.  These  ser- 
mons were  published  soon  after  in  Philadelphia,  making 
a  book  of  two  hundred  pages,  a  second  edition  being  pub- 
lished in  Boston  about  ten  years  after.  Mr.  Ballou'g 
manner  of  delivery  was  so  distinct,  his  enunciation  so 
clear,  his  language  so  impressive,  that  a  practical  short- 
hand writer  could  easily  transcribe  every  word  he  uttered 
in  a  discourse.  There  was  never  any  hurry,  no  impetu- 
osity, no  excitement  that  betrayed  the  speaker  into  undue 
haste,  but,  though  all  was  tempered  with  warmth  and 
zeal,  still  it  was  such  admirably  controlled  earnestness  as 
never  to  confuse  the  mind  that  followed  his  spontaneous 
utterance.  We  well  remember  when  the  book  herein 
referred  to  was  handed  to  him  for  the  first  time.  "I  am 
^'surprised,"  said  he,  "fortius  seems  almost  miraculous; 


128  BIOGRAPHY. 

''here  are  my  own  words  and  thoughts  literally  as  I 
"  uttered  them,  in  living  and  indelible  lines  upon  these 
"pages,  while  my  pen  has  never  transcribed  one  letter 
"  of  the  matter.  I  might  have  improved  this  by  review- 
"ing  it  for  the  press,  but,  after  all,  it  is  as  God  sent 
^^it  f  Reading  on,  he  would  pause  now  and  then  to 
say,  "I  should  not  have  remembered  that  I  said  that, 
"if  it  was  not  so  literally  recalled  to  me."  These  ser- 
mons being  upon  important  doctrinal  points  and  subjects, 
as  indeed  were  nearly  all  his  sermons,  are  of  peculiar 
value.  The  book  is  also  a  very  excellent  sample  of  Mr. 
Ballou's  extempore  style  of  preaching,  as  these  sermons 
were  printed  from  the  reporter's  notes,  unrevised  by  the 
author,  who,  indeed,  did  not  see  them  until  they  were 
sent  to  him  in  Boston  in  book  form.  At  the  time  these 
sermons  were  delivered,  the  churches  were  always  crowded 
to  their  utmost  capacity.  The  Sabbath  was  not  only 
thus  occupied,  but  also  many  days  and  evenings  of  each 
week,  the  simple  announcement  of  a  meeting  being  quite 
sufficient  to  ensure  a  large  and  attentive  audience  for  the 
occasion.  In  the  mean  time,  in  private  circles,  Mr. 
Ballou  was  forming  extensive  personal  acquaintance  with 
the  hospitable  citizens,  among  whom  he  counted  some  of 
the  warmest  friends  in  the  cherished  host,  who  continued 
such  with  him  to  the  closing  hours  of  his  earthly  career. 
"  The  largest  audience  I  remember  to  have  addressed," 
he  says,  "was  in  "Washington  Garden  Saloon,  Philadel- 
"phia,  which  my  friends  had  procured  for  me,  finding 
"the  meeting-houses  far  too  small  to  accommodate  the 


COMMENCES   THE   UNIVERSA;.IST   MAGAZINE.      129 

"crowds  that  thronged  to  our  meetings.  This  hall, 
"which  will  accommodate  some  six  thousand  people,  was 
"crowded  to  excess.  On  no  former  occasion  did  I  ever 
"feel  more  pressed  with  the  weight  of  duty  which  lay 
"  upon  me,  nor  a  more  sensible  need  of  divine  assistance. 
"The  attention  of  the  audience,  and  the  multitude  of 
"'friendly  hands  which  were  extended  to  receive  my 
"adieu,  seemed  to  speak  a  language  which  signified  the 
"  approbation  of  my  divine  Master,  which,  to  me,  is  far 
"better  than  life." 

One  of  the  most  marked  peculiarities  of  Mr.  Ballou's 
character  was  not  only  his  almost  inexpressible  degree  of 
siraphcity,  but  his  perfect  self-possession,  and  unmoved 
and  placid  calmness,  under  any  and  all  circumstances. 
When  he  arose  to  address  an  audience  of  thousands,  as 
was  the  case  above  referred  to,  they  awed  him  not ;  he 
would  have  spoken  the  same  in  a  private  dwelling  of 
New  Hampshire,  before  a  few  hastily  assembled  friends, 
or,  with  the  same  prophetic  unction,  in  a  barn ;  —  the  vil- 
lage school-house  or  the  city  church  were  all  alike  to 
him.  When  he  arose  to  address  an  audience,  whether  of 
thousands  or  of  scores,  it  was  always  with  a  heart  so  full 
of  his  theme,  so  lowly  and  humble  before  his  Maker,  that 
not  a  thought  betrayed  itself  in  action  of  a  character  to 
indicate  that  he  considered  himself  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree, or  that  there  was  such  a  being  as  self  in  existence. 
And  then,  when  he  spoke,  it  was  not  with  the  adornments 
of  rhetorical  elegance,  nor  with  a  striving  after  effect ; 
not  one  useless  or  unnecessary  word  fell  from  his  hps ; 


130  .BIOGRAPHY. 

it  -was  simplicity  and  impressivencss  personified.  Such 
preaching  was  natural ;  there  was  not  an  artificial  ele- 
ment in  it.  No  wonder  that  it  produced  such  results ; 
no  wonder  that  he  should  witness  the  visible  fruits  of  his 
labors  ripening  about  him. 

It  was  no  spirit  of  fanaticism  that  created  such  a  furore 
in  the  public  to  hear  him,  it  was  not  fear  for  their  own 
good  hope  of  salvation  that  brought  people  together  in 
such  masses ;  it  was  not  excitement,  that  grand  agent  of 
revival  meetings  generally.  No ;  it  was  a  far  worthier 
influence  than  these ;  it  was  a  desire  to  hear  the  good 
tidings  that  the  preacher  dispensed,  as  he  alone  could  do. 
It  was  to  partake  of  the  bread  of  life  that  they  came,  and 
they  were  filled.  He  was  emphatically  the  messenger  of 
"  peace  and  good  will  to  men  ;"  and  the  multitudes  who 
came  to  hear  the  words  of  promise  from  his  lips,  received 
them  as  the  shepherds  did  to  whom  the  angels  bore  the 
glad  tidings  as  they  ''  watched  their  flocks  by  night." 

After  the  departure  of  Christ,  and  the  death  of  his 
immediate  disciples,  a  darkness  had  crept  upon  the  hearts 
and  souls  of  mankind ;  faith  in  the  boundless  love  of  the 
Creator  had  been  weakened,  as  belief  in  his  vengeance 
strengthened,  and  nearly  all  Christian  creeds  were  gloomy, 
disheartening,  and  repulsive.  To  dispel  these  erroneous 
views,  —  to  withdraw  the  clouds  that  hid  the  brightness 
of  the  bow  of  promise,  —  to  reveal  all  the  priceless  tender- 
ness and  love  of  the  divine  nature,  —  to  radiate  the  light 
of  hope  upon  a  darkened  world,  was  a  task  as  glorious  as 
ever  fell  to  the  lot  of  man.     What  more  thrilling  discov- 


COMMENCES   THE   UNIVERSALIST   MAGAZINE.      131 

eries  ever  dawned  upon  the  human  intellect  than  those 
which  revealed  themselves  to,  and  rewarded  the  prayerful 
search  of,  him  of  whom  we  write  7  "VYe  can  easily  under- 
stand how  the  greatness  of  this  mission  strengthened  and 
sustained  him  in  his  arduous  duties,  in  his  daily  gospel 
labors,  in  his  long  journeyings,  in  his  voluminous  exer- 
tions with  the  pen  and  in  the  pulpit.  Verily  the  hour 
and  the  man  had  arrived.  It  mattered  little  that  he  did 
not  spare  himself,  that  he  gave  himself  up  wholly  to  his 
vocation ;  it  was  not  destined,  not  designed,  that  he  should 
succumb  in  the  good  fight ;  vigor  and  energy  were  given 
him  to  support  him  through  all  his  trials,  up  to  the  very 
verge  of  a  long  and  eventful  life,  when  the  chief  end  of 
his  existence  had  been  accomplished. 

Not  long  subsequent  to  his  return  from  this  journey  to 
New  York  and  Philadelphia,  he  published  a  series  of 
^''Lecture  Sermons^''^  in  one  volume  of  four  hundred 
pages.  This  book,  like  every  one  that  ever  emanated 
from  his  pen,  had  a  very  extensive  sale,  passing  through 
several  large  editions,  and  still  finds  a  ready  market. 
These  "Lecture  Sermons"  give,  like  the  "  Treatise  on 
Atonement,"  an  evidence  of  the  fact  that  the  author  was 
always  working  in  new  veins  of  thought.  He  was  not 
one  contented  to  follow  in  the  beaten  track  of  others ;  his 
motto  from  the  outset  -wsls  progress ;  and  each  new  work 
that  emanated  from  his  pen  and  comprehensive  mind, 
gave  fresh  token  of  research  and  discovery.  Not  long 
after  the  issuing  of  the  "  Lecture  Sermons,"  he  published 
another  book,  entitled  '■^Select  Sermons  upon  Important 


132  BIOGRAPnY. 

Passages, ^^  making  a  book  of  three  hundred  and  fifty 
pages.  Like  the  previous  work,  this  book  is  peculiarly 
characteristic  of  its  author,  and  treating,  as  it  does,  upon 
deeply  interesting  and  doctrinal  points,  it  has  found  a  wide 
circulation.  These  books  are  distinguished  alike  for 
patient  research,  wise  reflections,  deep  penetration,  and 
the  soundness  of  their  raoral  influence.  The  last  work 
has  passed  through  seven  editions. 

Mr.  Ballou  was  frequently  heard  to  remark,  that  if  we 
would  reason  in  reference  to  the  divine  economy  as  we  do 
concerning  other  matters,  we  should  soon  discard  many 
of  the  false  notions  which  do  so  much  towards  enshroud- 
ing our  spirits  in  darkness,  and  thus  preventing  our  pro- 
gress tOAvards  the  goal  of  gospel  truth.  In  illustration  of 
this,  we  subjoin  the  following  anecdote,  in  his  own  words, 
as  furnished  for  the  Universalist  Magazine  at  the  time  of 
its  occurrence.  It  happened  to  him  while  on  a  journey 
from  Boston  to  Watertown,  New  York,  in  the  year  1824. 
While  absent  from  his  paper,  Mr.  Ballou  was  in  the  habit 
of  supplying  his  editorial  columns  through  the  mail,  partly 
made  up  of  correspondence  from  the  points  he  visited, 
and  relating  to  such  matters  and  themes  as  were  calcu- 
lated to  interest  a  mind  of  his  peculiar  character.  The 
following  anecdote  is  taken  from  one  of  these  letters. 

"The  day  following,  a  widow  belonging  to  Pittsfield, 
''  Mass.,  entered  the  stage  in  that  town  to  go  to  Den- 
"  mark,  New  York,  to  visit  her  young  son,  whom  she  had 
**  not  seen  for  six  years,  and  who  is  now  about  fifteen. 
"  This  lady  I  found  to  be  quite  orthodox  in  her  views, 


COMxMEXCES  THE  UNIVERSALIST  MAGAZINE.      133 

'  and  disposed  to  question  me  concerning  mine.  At  the 
'  inn  in  Albany  where  the  stage  stops,  we  had  some 
'  serious  conversation  on  the  subject  of  the  ignorance 
'  and  unbehef  of  man.  Her  queries  concerning  this 
'  subject  were  directed  in  the  usual  way,  and  were 
'  designed  to  prove  that  in  consequence  of  unbelief  in 
'  the  Saviour,  the  sinner  is  expected  to  be  cut  off  forever 
'  without  mercy.  Having  noticed  in  this  lady  an  anxious 
'  desire  to  find  her  son,  and  perceiving  that  her  affections 

*  were  tender  towards  her  fatherless  child,  I  thought 
'  proper  to  try  to  open  her  eyes  by  means  of  appealing 

*  to  her  natural  affection. 

'' '  Madam,  do  you  think  your  son  will  know  you?'  I 
'  asked.  She,  with  manifest  emotion,  replied,  '  It  is  so 
'  long  since  he  saw  me,  that  I  do  not  think  he  will ! ' 
'  '  And  should  you  find  that  he  has  forgotten  you,  so  as 
'  not  to  recognize  your  person  and  countenance,  do  you 
'  think  he  would  be  in  danfrer  on  that  account  of  losing 
'  your  favor  ? '  Tears  started  into  her  eyes,  and  the 
'  weight  of  the  question  was  sensibly  manifest.  She 
'  replied  in  the  softest  accents  in  the  negative.  '  Well, 
'madam,'  I  continued,  'should  you  find  that  your  son 
'  has  forgotten  your  countenance,  and  should  you  inform 
'him  of  the  fact  of  which  you  find  him  ignorant,  and 
'  yet  he  should  not  believe  you,  should  you  then  feel 
'  unkindly  towards  your  son  ? '  She  fully  appreciated 
'  the  question,  and  answered  in  the  negative.  I  then 
'  called  her  attention  to  the  remarkable  passage  in  the 

forty-seventh  chapter  of  Isaiah,  in  which  the  divine 
12 


134  BIOGRAPHY. 

''  kindness  is  commended  to  exceed  the  compassion  of  a 
"  mother  to  her  tender  offspring.  She  signified  her  sat- 
"  isfaction,  and  gave  me  to  understand  that  the  argument 
"  had  reached  its  object."- 

This  anecdote,  striking  and  beautiful  in  its  bearings,  is 
also  particularly  interesting  as  being  so  perfect  an  illus- 
tration of  Mr.  Ballou's  style  of  argument.  He  always 
brought  the  subject  home  to  the  feelings  and  affections  of 
his  hearers,  illustrating  his  theme  by  the  simplest  facts. 
His  examples  by  way  of  explaining  his  subject  were 
ever  so  aptly  chosen,  as  to  seem  to  have  occurred 
almost  solely  for  his  use ;  these  illustrations  were  ever 
drawn  from  every-day  life,  and  from  the  most  familiar 
subjects  about  us.  The  family  circle  afforded  an  infinite 
variety  of  bearings  and  illustrations,  exceedingly  well 
fitted  to  delineate  his  belief;  and  those  who  have  been 
accustomed  to  hear  him  preach,  will  remember  how  fre- 
quently he  referred  to  the  homes  of  his  hearers  for  illus- 
trations. In  this  respect  his  discourses  were  a  close 
imitation  of  his  Master's,  who  spoke  as  never  man  spoke. 

There  lies  open  before  us  at  this  moment  the  auto- 
biography of  Rev.  Abel  C.  Thomas,  where  he  speaks  of 
Mr.  Ballou  on  the  occasion  of  his  (Mr.  Thomas's)  first 
visit  to  Boston,  and  his  meeting  with  the  subject  of  this 
biography.  "  No  one  will  deem  me  invidious  in  men- 
"  tioning  Hosea  Ballou.  There  he  stood  in  the  .simplic- 
''  ity  and  maturity  of  a  child-man.  "Was  it  marvellous 
*'  that  his  heart-speech  should  tingle  within  me  as  the 
*'  voice  of  a  father?    He  stood  up  the  taller  in  his  man- 


COMMENCES   THE   UNIVERSALIS!   MAGAZINE.      135 

"  liood  for  having  bowed  to  brotherly  fellowship  with  a 
'^  boy.  There  was  no  distinguishing  grace  in  the  act ;  it 
"  was  his  way  ahoay^  and  he  was  only  the  taller  on  that 
''  account.  He  was  preaching  then  (0  !  how  luminously 
"  and  forcibly  he  was  preaching !)  at  the  age  of  three- 
"  score." 

It  was  ever  thus  that  strangers  were  impressed  on 
meeting  with  him.  They  had  heard,  of  course,  much  of 
Hosea  Ballou,  they  had  read  his  books,  or  his  essays 
through  the  newspaper  press ;  by  name  and  reputation 
they  had  long  known  him.  Some  had  imagined  him 
proud,  austere,  and  distant.  They  approached  a  man, 
for  the  first  time,  who  had  reached  to  his  extended  span 
of  life,  to  his  experience  and  world-wide  celebrity,  with 
some  degree  of  awe ;  but  his  warm  pressure  of  the  hand, 
the  tender  and  soft  expression  of  his  eye,  the  soothing  and 
melodious  voice,  (that  gentle,  soothing,  yet  impressive 
voice,  how  strongly  our  senses  recall  it  now !)  the  kind 
word,  —  these  instantly  dispelled  any  feeling  of  distance 
that  might  have  arisen  in  the  breast  of  the  new  comer  ; 
and  he  found  impressed  on  every  word  he  uttered,  on 
every  lineament  of  his  features,  on  every  sentiment  of  his 
heart,  a  spirit  of  divine  sbnpUclty. 

Arrogating  nothing  to  himself,  unassuming  to  the 
utmost  degree,  he  counted  his  own  services  as  nothing, 
and  only  aspired  to  be  known  as  his  Master's  follower, 
and  the  servant  of  all  men. 


CHAPTER   X. 

COMMENCES   THE   UNIVERSALIS!   EXPOSITOR. 

During  the  year  1831  Mr.  Ballou  commenced,  with 
his  nephew,  Rev.  Hosea  Ballou  2d,  the  editorship  of  the 
"  Universalist  Expositor,"  a  quarterly  publication.  He 
continued  for  two  years  as  editor  of  the  work,  and  after- 
wards as  a  regular  contributor  for  a  number  of  years. 

In  November,  1834,  Mr.  Ballou  was  again  induced  to 
make  the  cities  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia  a  profes- 
sional visit.  He  had,  previous  to  this  date,  and  repeat- 
edly afterwards,  been  earnestly  solicited  to  settle  in  New 
York,  as  well  as  in  Philadelphia.  Indeed,  a  systematic 
effort  was  made  in  the  former  city  to  obtain  his  services 
permanently,  and  he  was  offered  the  pecuniary  consider- 
ation of  several  hundred  dollars  more  per  annum  than 
he  then  or  ever  after  received  from  the  Second  Univer- 
salist Society  in  Boston.  Besides  this  increase  in  salary, 
there  were  several  other  important  inducements  offered  in 
order  to  influence  him  to  settle  among  them.  But  Mr. 
Ballou  had,  after  so  many  years'  residence  and  pastorship 


COMMENCES   THE   UNIVEKSALIST   EXPOSITOK.       137 

in  this  cltj  and  over  a  society  he  so  much  loved,  become 
deeply  and  ardently  attached  to  the  associations  of  his 
charge,  and  had  formed  ties  of  friendship  and  love  that 
were  almost  too  strong  to  sever.  He,  however,  returned 
an  answer  at  last  to  these  reiterated  applications  and  pro- 
posals, that  he  would  lay  the  subject  before  his  society, 
and  they  should  decide  the  matter  for  him.  The  society 
in  New  York  signified  their  willingness  to  have  the  mat- 
ter thus  settled ;  and  he  accordingly  represented  the  same 
to  the  Second  Universalist  Society,  telling  them  exactly 
his  own  feelings,  and  bidding  them  to  decide  the  matter 
for  him.  There  was  but  one  voice  in  the  society ;  the 
feelings  he  had  expressed  were  entirely  reciprocated ;  the 
vote  that  he  must  remain  with  them,  was  unanimous; 
there  was  not  one  dissenting  voice.  He  had  been  tried, 
and  found  faithful.  Cheerfully  acquiescing  in  this  decis- 
ion, the  subject  was  dropped, —  an  understanding  being 
had,  and  indeed  a  promise  given  on  Mr.  Ballou's  part, 
that  he  would  visit  New  York  professionally  as  often  and 
for  as  long  a  period  at  a  time  as  he  could  make  it  con- 
venient. 

The  following  letter  was  written  to  his  wife  from  New 
York,  during  his  visit  to  that  city  in  this  year.  It  is  one 
in  his  usual  style,  and  will  show  the  reader  the  tender 
relationship  of  his  domestic  associations,  and  also  the  reli- 
ance in  Divine  Providence  which  ever  actuated  him.  He 
never  wrote  the  briefest  letter  without  expressing  the 
same  religious  sentiment.  The  letter  is  dated  New 
York,  October  30,  1834. 
12* 


138  BIOGRAPHY. 

"  My  Dear  :   It  is  with  gratitude  to  the  kind  Pro- 

''  tector  of  our  lives,  that  I  inform  you  of  our  comfortable 

"  health.     We  had  a  very  good  passage  from  Boston  to 

'*  this  city,  except  that  the  sea  was  quite  boisterous,  which 

"  caused  our  daughters  to  be  quite  sea-sick  during  the 

"  night.     We  arrived  in  this  city  about  nine  o'clock,  A.  m., 

"  and  were  kindly  received  by  Col.  Harson  and  family, 

''  where    we    are    at    home    until    to-morrow    morning, 

"  when  we  expect  to  leave  for  Philadelphia.     Clementina 

"  and  Fiducia"  (the  two  daughters  with  him)  "rode  about 

''  the  city  yesterday,  and  had  a  view  of  nearly  all  its 

"  beauties.     We  took  tea  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sawyer  last 

"  evening,  where  we  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  with 

"  Bro.  Fuller,  who  will  supply  my  desk  and  bring  you 

"  this  letter.     I  preached  in  Bro.  Le  Fevre's  church  on 

"  Tuesday  evening,  and  have  an   appointment  in  Bro. 

"  Sawyer's  church  for  this  evening.     I  hope  that  your 

"  cold   has  subsided,  and   that   the  family  are  in   good 

"  health.      You   will   remember   that    Bro.  Fuller  is  a 

"stranger  in  Boston,  and  that  he  will  need  those  atten- 

"  tions  which  will  make  him  feel  at  home.     Give  our  love 

"  to  all  the  inmates  of  our  house,  and,  by  the  blessing  of 

"  Heaven,  expect  us  at  the  time  appointed. 

"Affectionately  yours, 

"  HosEA  Ballou." 
"  Ruth  Ballou." 

We  need  hardly  pause  here  to  analyze  this  letter.  The 
reader  will  at  once  recognize,  in  its  composition,  the  affec- 
tionate husband  and  father,  the  devout  Christian,  and  the 


COMMENCES  THE  TJNIVERSALIST  EXPOSITOR.      139 

thoughtful  friend,  all  of  which  were  innate  qualities  in  the 
writer's  heart.  The  address  of  the  letter  was  the  style 
he  always  adopted  towards  his  wife.  The  commencement 
of  the  same  is  a  perfect  type  of  his  constant  acknowl- 
edgment of  the  Divine  favor.  The  reference  to  the  chil- 
dren who  were  with  him.  evinced  the  same  thoughtfulness 
for  their  enjoyment  and  comfort  that  exercised  his  mind 
to  his  last  days  ;  his  inquiry  for  his  wife's  health,  hoping 
that  her  "  cold'"  was  better,  was  another  evidence  of  his 
solicitous  affection  for  his  companion ;  and,  finally,  his 
recommending  the  bearer  as  he  did, — "  You  will  remember 
"  that  Bro.  Fuller  is  a  stranger  in  Boston,  and  that  he 
"  will  need  those  attentions  which  will  make  him  feel  at 
*'  home," — are  all  most  significant  of  his  mind  and  heart. 
"  Immediately  after  my  first  visit  to  Philadelphia," 
says  Mr.  Ballou,  "  a  second  society  was  formed,  and  a 
"  large  meeting-house  was  built  in  Callowhill.  From 
*'  this  society  I  received  a  very  urgent  invitation  to 
"become  their  pastor;  but,  as  my  Boston  friends  felt 
"  desirous  to  have  me  stay  with  them,  I  could  not  think 
"  it  my  duty,  for  a  few  hundred  dollars  more  remunera- 
"  tion  for  my  services  annually,  to  leave  them,  as  my  sal- 
"  ary  was  at  that  time  sufficient  for  my  wants.  So  late 
"  as  the  year  1844,  by  invitation  from  the  Callowhill 
' '  society,  I  visited  and  preached  for  them  for  four  weeks. 
"  While  I  was  there,  my  friends  proposed  sending  to  Bos- 
"  ton  for  Mrs.  Ballou,  with  a  desire  that  I  would  continue 
"  with  them  for  an  indefinite  period.  But  my  age  admon- 
"  ished  me  not  to  undertake  too  much." 


140  BIOGRAPHY. 

"We  may  add  here  the  following  memorandum  from 
notes  which  he  gave  the  author  of  these  pages  relative  to 
a  subject  before  alluded  to,  concerning  the  matter  of  a 
larger  pecuniary  offer  for  his  professional  services  : 

"At  one  time,  while  I  tarried  in  New  York,  the  Pine- 
'  street  Society  presented  me  with  a  pressing  in\ntatioa 
'  to  settle  with  them,  offering  me  some  hundreds  of  dol- 
'  lars  more  than  I  was  then  receiving  for  my  professional 
'  services,  to  induce  me  to  remove  to  New  York  city. 
'  This  official  invitation,  together  with  a  very  brotherly 
'  letter  from  the  society  in  New  York  to  my  own  in  Bo3- 
'  ton,  in  which  they  endeavored  to  assign  good  reasons 
'  for  my  removal,  I  took  with  me  to  the  Second  Uni- 
'  versalist  Society,  in  School-street.  I  had  previously 
'  given  my  friends  in  New  York  to  understand  that  I 
'  would  not  be  persuaded  to  leave  Boston,  unless  my  soci- 
'  ety  would  give  their  cordial  consent  to  such  a  measure. 
'  After  submitting  this  letter  to  my  society,  I  was  given 
'  to  understand,  in  an  official  manner,  that,  by  a  unan- 
'  imous  vote,  my  society  had  resolved  that  I  must  remain 
'  with  them.  This  of  course  ended  the  matter,  as  their 
'  wish  was  my  guide." 

We  have  related  these  circumstances  more  particularly 
to  show  the  reader  that  Mr.  Ballou  was  actuated  by  no 
mercenary  motive  in  this  matter,  and  indeed  to  prove  that 
it  was  a  principle  altogether  foreign  to  his  character.  We 
see  that  the  offer  of  a  greater  pecuniary  emolument  (we 
believe  the  New  York  society  offered  him  eight  hundred 
dollars  more  than  he  was  then  receiving  per  annum,  and 


COMMENCES   THE   UNIVERSALIST   EXPOSITOR.      141 

also  to  bear  the  incidental  expenses  attendant  upon  his 
removal)  had  no  influence  upon  his  mind.  If  his  society 
no  longer  desired  his  services,  he  was  ready  to  leave  them  * 
at  once.  If  they  were  still  attached  to  him.  and  preferred 
his  ministration  to  that  of  any  other  individual,  no  pecu- 
niary inducement  should  part  them.  We  may  use  his 
own  words,  and  say  that  the  evidence  of  the  unabated 
regard  of  the  people  of  his  charge,  of  their  undiminished 
attachment  to  him  and  his  services,  rendered  him  far  hap- 
pier than  any  amount  of  silver  and  gold  could  possibly 
have  done.  Indeed,  there  was  not  one  spark  of  merce- 
nary feeling  existing  in  his  heart ;  it  was  contrary  to  his 
very  nature. 

Those  who  knew  Mr.  Ballou  best  were  well  aware  of 
his  punctilious  notions  as  it  concerned  money  affairs. 
He  would  not  himself  owe  any  man,  and  he  liked  "short 
settlements,"  believing  in  the  old  adage  that  they  "  make 
long  friends."  Pie  was  scrupulously  exact  in  his  dealings, 
and  would  be  careful  not  to  be  overpaid  or  underpaid 
in  a  money  transaction ;  and  these  peculiarities  may  have, 
with  some,  led  to  a  belief  that  he  was  penurious  in  his 
disposition,  though  this  was  by  no  means  the  case. 
Could  we  with  propriety  refer  to  his  numerous  private 
deeds  of  charity,  to  the  open-handed  dealing  that  evinced 
the  generous  nature  of  his  disposition  and  the  liberality 
of  his  heart,  we  could  exhibit  a  list  of  facts  that  would 
disabuse  the  mind  of  any  one  of  such  an  unfavorable 
impression.  We  feel  tenacious  upon  this  point,  realizing 
as  we  do  the  untruth  of  any  such  deduction ;  and  for  any 


142  BIOGRAPHY. 

one  to  make  such  a  remark  or  inference,  would  be  at  once 
to  expose  his  own  personal  ignorance  of  the  man. 

Mr.  Ballou  was  not  one  to  give  injudiciously;  he 
was  not  lavish  in  his  bestowals  ;  but  what  he  gave  to 
charitable  purposes,  more  or  less,  he  was  careful  to  know 
would  be  productive  of  real  benefit.  Once  satisfied  of 
the  worthiness  of  the  purpose,  he  always  gave  in  accord- 
ance with  his  means.  His  generosity  was  unostentatious, 
and  sought  such  channels  as  run  beneath  the  shades  of 
domestic  necessities,  rather  than  those  exhibited  on  hill- 
tops, or  that  advertise  themselves  in  open  places.  The 
author  of  these  pages  has  witnessed  from  childhood  a 
most  liberal  and  charitable  spirit  as  exercised  by  the 
subject  of  this  memoir. 

When  he  was  solicited  for  assistance,  he  always  listened 
attentively  to  every  appeal,  and  carefully  examined  the 
case  and  its  merits,  when,  being  satisfied  of  its  claims  for 
aid,  he  not  only  gave  himself,  but  took  pains  to  interest 
others  for  the  same  end.  At  times  he  would  call  on  his 
society,  either  collectively  or  individually,  and  thus  do  a 
great  good  by  affording  timely  pecuniary  aid,  in  many 
cases.  He  never  asked  of  a  person  his  religion  before 
he  gave  him  in  charity ;  all  were  considered  as  members 
of  the  same  great  family,  and  "  where  want  resided,  he 
knew  the  door."  The  needy  found  in  him  a  firm  and 
judicious  friend ;  one  who  was  careful  not  to  do  them  a 
harm,  in  the  spirit  of  kindness,  by  encouraging  a  slothful 
or  idle  spirit,  but  who  sent  them  away  wiser  and  happier 
than  they  came  to  his  door. 


COMMENCES  THE  UNIVERSALIST  EXPOSITOR.      143 

"Among  the  many  moral  duties,"  says  Mr.  Ballou, 
^  which  contribute  to  the  mitigation  of  the  misfortunes 
'  of  human  hfe,  and  to  administer  to  the  enjoyments  of 
'  social  beings,  that  of  charitably  bestowing  a  part  of 
'  what  a  liberal  Providence  has  put  into  our  hands,  on 
•  those  who  have  been  unfortunate  in  the  loss  of  prop- 
'  erty,  or  by  sickness,  or  other  unavoidable  visitations, 
'  should  claim  our  earnest  attention.  This  virtue  at 
'  once  combines  many  moral  excellences,  and  seems  to 
'  call  into  action  some  of  the  best  qualities  of  our  social 
'  nature.  It  is  that,  too,  which  seems  to  resemble  the 
'  bountiful  conduct  of  the  Giver  of  every  good  and  per- 
'  feet  gift ;  and  in  some  degree  compares  with  the  grace 
'  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who,  though  he  was  rich, 
'  for  our  sake  became  poor,  that  we  through  his  poverty 
'  might  be  made  rich,  and  greatly  ornaments  the  gospel 
'  professions  of  brotherly  love.  This,  too,  is  a  virtue 
'  which  never  loses  sight  of  the  good  of  its  agent,  who, 
'  being  blessed  with  the  genuine  spirit  of  heaven-born 
'  charity,  realizes  that  it  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to 
'  receive.  Nor  is  there  anything  more  acceptable  to  the 
'  Divine  mind  of  universal  goodness,  than  to  see  rational 
'  beings  exerting  themselves  to  assist  one  another.  '  To 
'  do  good  and  communicate,  forget  not,  for  with  such 
'  sacrifice  God  is  well  pleased.'  " 

While  Mr.  Ballou  was  in  Philadelphia  during  the  year 
1834,  he  preached  nine  sermons,  which,  like  those  deliv- 
ered in  the  same  city  at  the  close  of  1821  and  the  com- 
mencement of  '22,  were  taken  down  by  a  stenographer 


144  BIOGRAPHY. 

in  short-hand,  and  published  in  a  volume  of  two  hundred 
pages.  In  the  preface  to  this  volume,  which,  having  been, 
like  its  predecessor,  obtained  through  the  reporter,  was 
never  seen  by  the  author  until  in  print,  Rev.  Abel 
C.  Thomas,  the  publisher,  makes  the  following  remaiks  ; 
valuable  as  coming  from  a  discriminating  and  intelligent 
mind,  and  one  which  would  scorn  flattery  as  it  would 
falsehood. 

' '  Mr.  Ballou  is  in  the  sixty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  yet 
"his  eye  is  not  dim,  nor  his  natural  force  abated.  His 
"public  communications  are  distinguished  by  extraordi- 
"nary  penetration,  perfect  knowledge  of  human  nature, 
"aptness  of  illustration,  and  closeness  of  reasoning.  In 
"  private  intercourse  he  manifests  the  feelings  of  a  heart 
"  baptized  into  the  spirit  of  the  living  God.  It  is  im- 
"  possible  to  listen  to  his  public  exhibitions  of  love  divine 
"  without  according  to  him  the  meed  of  sincerity  and 
"intellectual  power,  and  it  is  equally  impossible  to  min- 
"gle  with  him  in  the  walks  of  social  life  without  loving 
"  him  from  the  heart." 

Mr.  Ballou  was  in  the  habit  of  making  frequent  use  of 
the  scriptural  story  of  Joseph  and  his  brethren,  the  para- 
ble of  the  Prodigal  Son,  the  case  of  Saul  of  Tarsus,  and 
other  familiar  parables,  to  illustrate  the  doctrinal  points  of 
his  discourses  upon  the  holy  text.  These  illustrations, 
however,  were  always  apt  and  appropriate,  and  any  one 
who  reads  the  Scriptures  must  very  well  know  that  these 
parables  present  almost  innumerable  bearings.  Although 
he  never  did  so  without  communicating  some  new  point  or 


COMMENCES   THE   UNIVERSALIST   EXPOSITOR.      145 

bearing  in  the  narrative,  yet  the  frequency  of  these  refer- 
ences was  argued  by  some  as  an  objection  to  his  style  of 
preaching.  In  reference  to  this  subject,  Rev.  Abel  C. 
Thomas,  in  an  appendix  to  the  book  referred  to,  relates 
the  following  anecdote  :  — 

"  After  the  delivery  of  a  certain  discourse  in  one  of  our 
"cities,  by  Mr.  Ballou,  one  Universalist  minister  said  to 
''  another,  in  a  good-natured  way,  '  The  old  man  is  always 
^^  harping  on  Joseph  and  his  brethren,  the  Prodigal 
"Son,  and  Saul  of  Tarsus.'  'Well,'  said  the  other,  'it 
"is  a  good  harp,  nevertheless,  and  ]\Ir.  Ballou  knows  how 
"to  play  upon  it.  He  always  plays  a  new  tune,  and  I 
"  could  listen  to  him  all  night.'  " 

His  book  of  nine  sermons  embraces  some  of  the  most 
stirring  and  able  arguments  that  the  author  ever  produced, 
and  it  has  been  read  by  more  persons  probably  than  any 
book  of  the  same  character  in  the  country.  The  first 
edition  was  a  large  one,  but  was  rapidly  followed  by 
others. 

Mr.  Ballou  ever  delighted  in  promoting  the  innocent 
amusement  of  his  children  in  every  reasonable  way.  He 
never  adopted  that  stern  and  unapproachable  disguise  that 
but  too  often  estranges  the  affections  of  the  child  from 
the  parent.  He  was  fond  at  times  of  unbending,  as  it 
were,  from  the  extreme  tension  of  mental  effort,  and 
entering  into  the  childish  amusements  of  his  family  circle ; 
it  was  only  long  enough,  however,  to  endear  himself  to 
that  circle,  for  his  time  was  too  precious  to  admit  of  much 
relaxation,  however  grateful  this  might  be  to  his  feehngs. 
13 


146  BIOGRAPHY. 

It  -was  not  with  the  subject  of  this  biography  as  with 
those  who  wear  two  faces,  one  when  at  home  and  another 
when  abroad ;  there  was  no  deceit  in  him  ;  he  carried 
forth  from  his  home  the  same  face  he  wore  there,  the 
same  aspect  of  mind  and  body,  evincing  precisely  the 
same  characteristics  in  public  as  he  did  in  private.  He 
knew  no  change,  but  was  always  eminently  natural  every- 
where. 

His  social  character  was  such  as  ardently  to  endear 
him  to  every  member  of  his  large  family.  While  he 
maintained  the  dignity  and  authority  appropriate  to  his 
general  character,  still  he  ever  evinced  an  exuberance  of 
good  nature,  and  was  amiable,  gentle,  and  even  playful 
at  times,  in  his  domestic  and  public  intercourse. 

During  the  year  1834,  Mr.  Ballou  wrote  and  published 
a  work  entitled,  "An  Examination  of  the  Doctrine  of 
Future  Retribution,"  contained  in  one  volume  of  three 
hundred  pages.  This  is  affectionately  dedicated  to  the 
second  Universalist  Society  of  Boston,  as  a  token  of 
regard,  by  the  author,  who  had  so  long  presided  over 
this  brotherhood  in  the  most  happy  fellowship. 

In  the  following  extract  from  the  preface  to  this  book, 
the  reader  will  find  not  only  the  spirit  of  the  work 
referred  to,  but  will  also  observe  that  the  author  states,  in 
plain  and  unmistakable  terms,  some  important  points  of 
his  faith,  — points  wherein  he  differed  from  some  respected 
brethren  of  the  order,  but  which,  however,  form  almost 
the  universal  belief  of  the  mass  of  Universalists.  Our 
quotation  from  this  preface  commences  as  follows :  — 


COMMENCES   THE   UNIVERSALIST   EXPOSITOR.      147 

"  It  has  always  remained  the  fixed  resolution  of  the 
''writer  of  the  following  essay  to  keep  a  mind  open  to 
"conviction;  always  active  in  investigating  religious 
''truth;  constantly  ready  to  profess  and  hold  forth  any 
"  opinion,  however  unpopular,  and  however  opposed  by 
"  divines,  by  the  schools,  or  by  his  dearest  friends,  when 
"  convinced  of  its  truth.  This  course  has  led  him  to  give 
'''  up  many  religious  tenets  which  were  taught  him  in 
'•his  youth,  and  not  a  few  which  were  embraced  by  the 
' '  denomination  to  which  he  has  from  his  youth  belonged. 
' '  Travelling  this  course,  he  early  renounced  the  doctrine 
"  of  endless  punishment;  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity; 
"  that  of  native  depravity;  that  of  the  imputation  of  sin 
"  and  of  righteousness ;  that  of  the  vicarious  sufferings  of 
"  Christ ;  and,  nearly  eighteen  years  ago,  the  doctrine  of 
"  punishment  in  the  future  state.  It  has  been  his  lot  to 
"meet  with  much  opposition  on  most  of  these  points, 
"from  various  denominations,  and  not  the  least  strenuous 
"  from  those  of  the  denomination  with  which  he  has  been 
"  happy  to  hold  connection.  For  the  painful  travail 
"  endured  from  all  this  opposition,  he  has  been  abun- 
"  dantly  compensated  by  seeing  the  rapid  advance  of  the 
"doctrines  which  he  has  embraced  and  endeavored  to 
"  advocate. 

"  The  object  of  the  writer  of  the  following  pages  is  to 
"  place  his  views,  respecting  the  doctrine  of  a  future  state 
"of  retribution,  before  the  public,  and  to  preserve  his 
"  arguments  on  that  subject,  that  when  the  time  shall 
"come,  as  he  behoves  it  will,  when  people  in  general  will 


148  BIOCRArilY. 

'  number  the  tenet  of  future  punishment  among  those 
'  corruptions  of  Christianity  -which  "will  then  be  aban- 
'  (loned,  it  may  be  known  that  the  writer  disbelieved  it  in 
'  his  day ;  and  also  that  the  arguments  with  which  he 
'  opposed  it  may  then  be  known. 

"  Universalists  now  take  a  pleasure  in  looking  back 
'■  and  tracing,  from  Origen  dow^n  to  our  time,  the  progress 
'  of  the  doctrine  which  embraces  the  salvation  of  all  men; 
'  and  so  they  will  doubtless  continue  to  do  in  future 
'  ages. 

"  Some  may  query  whether  a  proper  regard  to  the 
'  opinions  and  feelings  of  honest,  faithful,  and  affectionate 
'  brethren,  who  believe  in  the  doctrine  of  future  retribu- 
'  tion,  but  yet  earnestly  contend  for  final  restoration, 
'  would  not  incline  the  writer  to  be  silent  on  the  subject, 
'■  and  not  to  come  out  with  this  publication.  To  this 
'  inquiry  it  is  replied,  that  such  brethren,  w^ith  their 
'  many  commendable  qualities,  are  warmly  cherished  in 
'  the  affections  of  the  writer's  heart,  nor  are  they  the 
'  less  regarded  because  they  do  not  adopt  his  opinions. 
'  And  he  feels  confident  that  such  brethren  will  entertain 
'  no  suspicions  of  his  want  of  respect  for  them.  They 
'  will  not  fail  to  consider  that  the  views  of  the  writer,  on 
'  the  subject  of  retribution,  are  not  so  wide  from  theirs 
'  as  theirs  are  from  the  views  of  those  authors  whom 
'  they  quote  as  authority  in  support  of  future  retribution. 
'  They  would  doubtless  sooner  embrace  the  opinion  of  no 
'  future  sin  and  misery,  than  defend  the  doctrine  main- 
'  tained  by  that  good  man,    exemplary  Christian,  and 


COMMENCES   THE   UNIVERSALIST   EXPOSITOR.      149 

I 
''  faithful  minister,  Elhanan  Winchester,  which  supposed 
''  that  the  wicked,  in  the  world  to  come,  would  suifer,  for 
"  SiQies  and  ages,  inconceivable  torment  in  literal  fire  and 
''  brimstone.  Such  torment  is  now  denied  by  our  doctors, 
''  who  maintain  endless  punishment,  and  rejected  also  bj 
''  those  who  beheve  in  a  state  hereafter  of  discipline  which 
"shall  end  in  an  entire  reformation.  Such  brethren  will 
"  also  cordially  respond  to  the  assurance  that  the  writer 
"of  the  following  work  will  never  withhold  a  sincere  fel- 
"  lowship  from  a  faithful  brother,  because  he  disagrees 
"  with  him  on  the  doctrine  of  divine  retribution. 

"It  is  very  possible  that  some,  who  have  a  strong 
"  desire  that  nothing  should  be  done  which  should  tend, 
"  in  the  least,  to  endanger  the  harmony  and  cordial  fel- 
"  lowship  of  Universalists,  may  think  that  prudence 
"  would,  at  least,  plead  for  a  delay,  and  suggest  the 
"  propriety  of  deferring  this  publication  to  some  future 
"  time,  when  it  might  give  less  offence.  Such  may 
"  be  assured  that  their  good  wishes  for  the  harmony  and 
"  fellowship  of  our  order  are  duly  respected  ;  but  they 
"  cannot  be  ii^norant  of  the  fact  that  the  doctrine  of  a 
"future  state  of  punishment  has  been  disbelieved,  by 
"  ministering  brethren  of  our  order,  for  many  years,  and 
"  that  much  has  been  published  with  a  view  to  disprove 
"  that  doctrine;  and,  moreover,  that  now  that  doctrine  is 
"  generally  disbelieved  by  Universalists  of  our  connec- 
"tion;  and  yet  much  harmony  prevails,  and  our  fellow- 
"  ship  remains,  and  is  warmly  cherished  between  brethren 
"  whose  opinions  disagree  on  the  subject  of  this  doctrine. 
13* 


150  BIOGRAPHY. 

'•'  The  writer  would  further  remark,  that  both  age  and 
'*  infirmity  admonish  him  that  what  he  feels  it  his  duty 
"to  do,  he  ought  not  to  delay;  and  he  cannot  believe 
"  that  any  of  his  brethren  can  feel,  in  the  least,  wounded 
''  because  their  aged  brother  should  finish  his  labors  in 
''accordance  with  the  dictates  of  his  own  understanding. 
"  It  is  a  happy  circumstance,  that  in  the  denomination  of 
''  Universalists,  no  one  feels  bound  to  defend  and  support 
"the  particular  opinions  of  another,  any  further  than  he 
"  is  himself  convinced  of  their  truth  and  importance. 
"  Our  platform  of  faith  is  general,  and  allows  individu- 
"  als  an  extensive  latitude  to  think  freely,  investigate 
"  minutely,  and  to  adopt  what  particular  views  best  com- 
"  port  with  the  honest  convictions  of  the  mind,  and 
"  fearlessly  to  avow  and  defend  the  same." 

In  perusing  this  book,  or  indeed  any  of  Mr.  Ballou's 
numerous  works,  the  reader  cannot  fail  to  be  struck  with 
the  complete  simphcity  and  purity  of  the  author's  style, 
at  the  same  time  being  deeply  impressed  with  the  magni- 
tude of  the  subject  treated  upon  :  he  finds  the  book  to  be 
more  like  a  familiar  friend  with  whom  he  is  conversing, 
than  the  deep  logical  work  it  really  is.  This  is  caused  by 
the  peculiar  clearness  and  force  of  the  style,  while  all  is 
so  conceived  and  put  down  as  to  be  within  scope  of  the 
humblest  understanding.  All  his  comparisons  and  illus- 
trations are  drawn  from  the  most  familiar  objects  about 
us,  bringing  our  e very-day  life  and  experience  to  bear 
upon  the  theme;  and  thus  his  arguments  were  doubly 
forcible  and  plain.     It  was  the  common  remark  that  little 


COMMENCES  THE   UNIVERSALIST   EXPOSITOR.      151 

cliildren  could  understand  his  sermons,  and  remember  tlie 
moral  inculcated.  "  If  I  can  only  make  mj  subject  so 
"  plain  that  children  will  understand  me,"  he  once  said 
in  relation  to  this  subject,  "  my  purpose  will  be  gained, 
"  and  I  shall  not  be  preaching  in  vain."  Probably  there 
never  was  a  public  speaker  who  possessed  more  fully  the 
power  of  making  himself  perfectly  and  clearly  understood, 
in  every  bearing  of  his  subject,  than  did  Mr.  Ballou. 
This  was  commonly  remarked  of  him  by  all,  and  more 
especially  by  those  in  his  own  profession  of  the  ministry, 
who  had  learned  by  experience  what  a  difficult  matter  it 
sometimes  is  to  impress  an  audience  with  the  precise  idea 
intended  by  the  speaker. 

About  this  date,  in  Mr.  Ballou' s  manuscript  memo- 
randa he  says  :  —  ''I  well  remember  a  conversation  I  had 
*'  with  a  learned  doctor  of  divinity  of  this  city,  some 
*'  years  ago.  It  happened  that  we  were  both  going  into 
'Hhe  country,  and  took  the  same  stage.  We  had  not 
''  travelled  far  before  the  doctor  very  politely  addressed 
''  me,  expressing  a  desire  to  know  my  opinion  on  a 
"  certain  passage  of  Scripture,  as  he  did  not  know  how  it 
'^  was  explained  by  those  of  my  opinion  in  religious  mat- 
"  ters.  The  stage  being  quite  full  of  gentlemen  who  were 
"strangers  to  me,  but  to  whom  I  was  doubtless  well 
''  known,  I  was  somewhat  surprised  that  the  learned 
"  divine  should  introduce  a  scriptural  subject,  and  espe- 
"  cially  one  concerning  which  he  supposed  we  entertained 
"  different  views.  However,  I  was  well  satisfied  that  he 
"expected  to    see  me    embarrassed  in  presence  of  the 


152  BIOGRAPHY. 

'  passengers,  whose  curiosity  was  evidently  excited.  I 
'  replied  that  I  was  not  unwilling,  on  any  proper  occasion, 
'  to  give  my  views  on  any  passage  of  Scripture  when 
'desired  to  do  so,  provided  I  was  satisfied  in  my  own 
'  mind  concerning  its  true  meaning. 

"There  was  the  most  profound  attention  evinced,  and 
'  the  doctor  introduced  Gal.  6  :  7  and  8.  '  Be  not 
'  deceived ;  God  is  not  mocked  :  for  whatsoever  a  man 
'soweth,  that  shall  he  reap.  For  he  that  soweth  to  his 
'  flesh  shall  of  the  flesh  reap  corruption ;  but  he  that 
'  soweth  to  the  spirit  shall  of  the  spirit  reap  life  everlast- 
'ing:'  the  passage  being  one  with  which  many  occa- 
'  sions  had  made  me  quite  familiar.  I  replied  imme- 
'  diately,  as  follows :  '  I  presume,  sir,  you  will  under- 
'  stand  all  you  wish  to  know  of  my  views  of  this  text,  if 
'  you  hear  me  repeat  it,  and  duly  observe  where  I  lay 
'  especial  emphasis  ;  —  Be  not  deceived ;  God  is  not 
'  mocked ;  for  whatsoever  a  man  soweth  that  shall  he 
'  also  reap.  For  he  that  soweth  to  his  flesh  shall  of  the 
^  flesh  reap  corruption  ;  but  he  that  soweth  to  the  spirit 
'  shall  of  the  spirit  reap  life  everlasting.'  The  moment 
'^  I  pronounced  the  words  of  the  text  thus,  there  was  a 
'  smile  on  the  countenances  of  all  in  the  stage,  and  a 
'  movement  which  signified  satisfaction.  I  merely  re- 
'  marked,  in  conclusion,  that  no  man  who  should  sow  in 
'one  field,  would  think  of  going  to  another  to  reap. 
'  The  doctor  made  me  no  reply,  nor  did  he  ask  any 
'  more  questions. 

"  The  above  is  but  a  sample,"  continues  Mr.  Ballou, 


COMMENCES   THE    UNIVERSALIST   EXPOSITOR.      153 

'  of  the  unnumbered  cases  in  which  I  have  seen  how 
'  utterly  abortive  is  a  liberal  education,  with  the  addition 
'  of  a  theological  school,  in  freeing  the  human  mind  from 
'  religious  errors.  So  far  from  effecting  any  such  desir- 
'  able  end,  these  so  highly  esteemed  advantages  generally 
'  serve  to  puff  up  the  mind  and  heart  with  pride,  and 
*  close  every  avenue  through  which  light  might  be 
'  received." 

The  engrossing  habits  of  a  student,  and  the  employ- 
ment of  a  large  portion  of  his  time  in  writing,  brought 
upon  Mr.  Ballou  the  weakness  in  his  left  side,  before 
referred  to,  and  which  was  still  more  augmented  by  his 
continued  use  of  the  pen.  This  trouble  became  at  last 
a  seated  and  irreparable  one,  and  a  source  of  much  bodily 
suffering  to  him  until  the  close  of  his  life,  though  serious 
attacks  of  it  were  but  transient,  and  usually  lasting  but  a 
few  hours  at  a  time.  This  affection  was  of  rather  a 
peculiar  character,  so  that  when  anything  occurred,  of  an 
unpleasant  nature,  to  trouble  or  distress  his  mind, —  bad 
news  of  any  sort,  the  sudden  death  of  a  relative  or 
friend,  or  any  matter  of  this  character, —  it  would  seem  to 
affect  the  weak  side,  and  there  distress  him. 

Mr.  Ballou  was  often  solicited,  by  letters  from  a  dis- 
tance, for  his  autograph,  with  which  he  complied  in  a 
brief  line,  most  generally ;  but  personal  applications  for 
this  object  were  very  frequent  during  his  journeyings 
from  home.  Being  asked  for  his  autograph  by  a  young 
lady  in  one  of  the  neighboring  towns,  who  handed  him 
her  album  for  the  purpose,  he  sat  down  and  wrote  the 


154  BIOUKAPilV. 

following  verses  impromptu,  and  which  have  been  handed 
to  us  for  insertion  here.  They  will  serve  to  show  his 
ready  power  of  versification ;  he  never  studied  to  be  a  poet, 
nor  ever  labored  upon  a  piece  of  poetical  composition.  He 
found  little  time  to  plant  and  rear  flowers  along  his  path- 
way of  hfe.  At  an  early  period  the  soil  he  tilled  was  of 
too  bold  and  rugged  a  character  to  cultivate  aught  save 
the  sterling  literal  seeds  of  truth,  the  sweetness  of  whose 
blossoms  is  fragrance  to  the  soul.  If  subsequently  he 
sometimes  plucked  a  lily  or  watered  a  rose-bud,  it  has 
been  at  breathing-shells  between  the  holding  of  the  plough 
and  the  planting  of  seed  in  his  Master's  vineyard.  He 
lacked  not  for  refinement  and  delicacy  of  taste,  or  for  the 
natural  promptings  of  the  poet,  but  there  was  more  im- 
portant business  for  him  to  perform,  and  he  realized  too 
fully  his  responsibility  to  allow  himself  to  forget  for  a 
moment  the  great  aim  and  business  of  his  mission.  The 
poem  referred  to  above  is  entitled 

THE   MYRTLE. 

"  Come,  take  the  "wreath  I  've  twined  for  thee, 
'T  is  wet  with  morning  dew  ; 
And  lessons  rare  of  love  and  truth 
These  flowers  shaJl  bring  to  you. 

The  half-blown  rose,  whose  spotless  leaves 

Speak  of  thy  hopes  as  fair, 
And  spicy  balm,  with  healing  breath. 

Are  mingling  odors  there. 

The  sweet  geranium  so  green 
A  fragrance  doth  impart. 


COMMENCES   THE   UNIVERSALIST   EXPOSITOR.      155 

True  as  the  gentle  breath  of  love, 
That  fills  the  youthful  heart. 

But  most  of  all  I  'd  have  thee  mark 

The  modest  myrtle  bough ; 
It  speaks  of  love  that  e'er  will  be 

As  pure  and  bright  as  now. 

For  though  the  rose  may  fade  and  die, 

The  balm  may  cease  to  cure, 
Through  summer's  light  and  winter's  shade 

The  Myktle  will  endure. 

Then  take  the  wreath  I  've  twined  for  thee, 

'T  is  wet  with  morning  dew  ; 
And  many  a  lesson  true  of  love 

These  flowers  shall  bring  to  you. ' ' 

We  find  a  letter  among  our  papers,  written  about  the 
period  of  which  we  now  speak.  It  is  from  his  pen,  and 
bears  date  New  York,  April  21st,  1839,  on  the  occasion 
of  a  brief  visit  to  that  citj,  and  was  addressed  to  the 
author  of  these  pages. 

"Maturin:  a  kind  Providence  brought  me  to  this 
"  city  early  yesterday  morning.  I  had  a  very  pleasant 
"passage  hither,  and  the  good  company  and  kind  atten- 
"  tion  of  Capt.  Parker.  I  am  at  the  Walton  House, 
''  which  was  Washington's  head  quarters  during  the 
''  Revolutionary  war.  It  is  now  between  nine  and  ten 
"  o'clock,  Sabbath  morning.  My  health  is  good  as  when 
*'  I  left  home.  My  friends  expect  me  to  preach  three 
"  sermons  this  day  and  evening.     Whether  I  shall  return 


156  BIOGRArilY. 

"  on  Monday  to  Boston,  or  remain  another  week  here,  I 
"  have  not  now  the  means  of  determining.  I  pray  God 
''  to  preserve  the  health  of  the  family,  and  return  me 
"  soon  to  enjoy  that  circle  from  which  it  is  painful  to  be 
"absent,  though  I  have  every  attention  and  necessary 
"accommodation  for  my  comfort.  Take  good  care  of 
"  your  health,  and  tell  your  mother  that  I  shall  endeavor 
"to  be  careful  of  mine. 

"  Affectionately, 

"HosEA  Ballou." 
"M.  M.  Ballou." 

This,  and  a  private  letter  previously  given  in  these 
pages,  are  not  made  public  for  any  particular  information 
they  communicate,  but  simply  to  show  the  reader  the 
feelings  of  the  writer  as  expressed  between  himself  and 
those  whom  he  loved  and  in  whom  he  confided.  These 
letters  might  be  greatly  multiplied,  but  this  would  per- 
haps serve  our  object  no  better  purpose.  If  a  hundred 
were  to  be  submitted  to  the  reader,  they  would  convey  no 
other  spirit  than  is  evinced  by  the  two  already  given. 
Mr.  Ballou's  private  correspondence  was  never  very  ex- 
tensive ;  his  letters  were  nearly  all  of  a  domestic  nature, 
or  brief  notes  relating  to  exchanges  with  other  brethren 
at  a  distance.  The  reason  that  his  letters  were  so  much 
of  this  nature,  was,  that  when  he  transcribed  his  thoughts 
to  paper  it  was  for  the  press.  Most  men  of  strong  and 
active  minds  are  in  the  practice  of  relieving  them,  as  it 
were,  by  writing  down  their  thoughts,  from  time  to  time, 
to  valued  friends ;  it  is  a  sort  of  necessary  relief  that 


COMMENCES   THE   UNIVERSALIS!   EXPOSITOR.      157 

some  minds  could  not  get  along  without.  But  Mr. 
Ballou's  writings  were  so  universally  made  public,  and 
he  was  so  constantly  supplying  the  public  press  with 
matter,  even  to  the  very  last  week  of  his  life,  that  his 
mind  and  pen  were  quite  sufficiently  \yorked  in  this  vein, 
without  seeking  any  other  channel. 

During  the  fall  of  1843,  Mr.  Ballou.  then  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two  years,  made  a  long  journey  to  the  West, 
to  attend  the  national  convention  of  Universalists.  held  at 
Akron,  Ohio.  On  the  route  thither,  in  company  with 
Bev.  Thomas  Whittemore  and  some  other  friends,  he 
visited,  for  the  first  time,  Niagara  Falls.  Mr.  Whitte- 
more, in  writing  home  a  description  of  their  visit  to  his 
paper,  the  Trumpet,  said  :  —  "  When  we  came  to  Table 
''  Rock,  Father  Ballou  stood  in  amazement,  and  when  we 
''  urged  him  to  go  back  over  the  river  before  dark,  '  Oh  ! ' 
"  said  he,  '  how  can  I  go  away  ?  '  He  said  his  thoughts 
'  •  were  like  those  of  Peter  on  one  occasion  :  '  It  is  good  to 
"be  here;  let  us  build  tabernacles,  and  dwell  upon  the 
*'spot.'  A  prism  was  handed  to  him,  through  which  he 
*•  could  see  the  rapids  in  colors  ineffably  glorious.  '  Oh  ! 
"my  soul!  oh  !  glory  to  God  ! '  were  his  exclamations." 

No  man  had  a  more  thorough  appreciation  of  all  that 
was  grand  and  noble  in  nature,  no  one  a  keener  eye  for 
her  myriads  of  charms  that  gladden  our  daily  lives  and 
illumine  the  pathway  of  life. 

"  We  heard  him,  for  the  first  time,"  says  the  editor  of 
the  American  Phrenological  Journal,  "  at  a  Universalist 
"general  convention,  Akron,  Ohio,  in  September,  1843, 
14 


158  BIOGRAPHY. 

'  where  he  preached  to  a  very  large  gathering,  with  the 
'  ablest  men  in  the  denonnnation  preceding  and  following 
'  him.  Many  of  them  delivered  more  elaborate  and 
'  carefully  studied  discourses,  but  there  was  no  other  who 
'  made  the  brown  faces  of  the  old  farmers  so  fairly  sJiine 
'  with  admiration  and  delight  as  '  Father  Eallou.'  Many 
'  of  them  had  heard  him  in  New  England  thirty  or  foity 
'  years  previous,  and  now,  hearing  that  he  was  to  attend 
'  the  convention,  had  come  thirty  or  forty  miles  to  listen 
'  to  him  once  again,  and  for  the  last  time  on  earth. 
'  Though  then  past  man's  allotted  period  of  •  three-score 
'  years  and  ten,'  his  distinctness  of  utterance,  clearness 
*  of  statement,  aptness  of  illustration,  and  force  of  argu- 
'  ment,  might  well  have  been  taken  as  a  model  by  a 
'  young  preacher ;  and,  though  he  spoke  more  than  an 
'  hour,  a  very  general  regret  was  evident  that  he  closed 
'  so  soon.  In  person  Mr.  Eallou  was  tall  and  slight, 
'  with  a  bearing  of  unaffected  meekness  and  humility." 

In  the  summer  of  the  succeeding  year  he  made  another 
visit  to  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  in  accordance  with 
the  promise  made  some  years  before,  to  come  as  often  and 
for  as  long  a  period  as  was  convenient  to  him,  and  also  in 
compliance  with  th,e  earnest  solicitations  of  the  societies 
in  both  these  cities  at  that  time.  As  we  have  before 
remarked,  he  had  formed  many  personal  friends  in  both 
these  cities,  and  it  was,  as  we  have  heard  him  often 
declare,  refreshing  to  his  heart  to  meet  them  and  enjoy 
their  liberal  and  kind  hospitality.  He  felt,  too,  an 
earnest  solicitude  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  those  soci- 


COMMENCES   THE   UNIVERSALIS!   EXPOSITOR.       159 

eties,  before  whom  he  had  so  often  spoken  with  such 
satisfaction  to  himself  and  profit  to  them.  During  this 
journey  southward,  by  the  sohcitations  of  the  societies  in 
Baltimore,  Mr.  Ballou  extended  his  visit  to  that  city, 
where  he  stopped  for  a  short  period,  which  time  he  im- 
proved by  the  delivery  of  sermons  day  and  evening.  On 
his  return  to  Boston,  he  preached  a  sermon,  we  well 
remember,  relative  to  the  condition  of  the  cause  of  Uni- 
versalism,  and  was  made  glad  at  heart  by  the  state  in 
which  he  found  it  in  these  cities,  and  at  being  able  to 
make  such  goodly  report  at  home.  It  was  like  the 
husbandman  going  abroad  in  his  master's  vineyard,  and 
counting  the  harvest  of  his  lord,  which  he  had  himself 
planted. 

The  kind  and  hospitable  treatment  which  Mr.  Ballou 
always  received,  in  the  cities  particularly  of  New  York 
and  Philadelphia,  seems  to  have  made  a  most  indelible 
impression  upon  his  heart.  Often  has  he  spoken  of  it  in 
his  family  circle,  until  we  have  felt  almost  as  though  we 
had  individually  shared  the  delightful  reunions  which  he 
described.  True,  it  was  thus  wherever  he  visited,  as  it 
regarded  making  warm  and  lasting  friends,  but  he  has 
left  memorandums  that  signify  his  remembrance  more 
particularly  of  the  societies  of  these  cities.  He  says  :  — 
"  In  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  I  have  ever  been  made 
''  by  the  brethren  to  feel  that  I  was  at  home ;  kind 
''hearts  and  hands  have  ever  greeted  me  in  either  place, 
"  and  some  of  the  happiest  and  most  profitable  moments 
"of  my  life  I  think  have  been  passed  in  ministering  to 


160  BIOGRAPHY. 

*'  the  beloved  societies  in  these  places.  Had  my  Heavenly 
"  Father  seen  fit  to  render  my  services  less  happy  and 
"fortunate  in  their  result  in  Boston,  I  should  have 
"found  a  happy  home  in  either  New  York  or  Philadel- 
"  phia.  As  it  is.  my  frequent  visits  to  both  have  afforded 
"me  undiminished  satisfaction,  and  much  social  enjoy- 
"ment.  My  sincere  prayers  are  constantly  offered  for 
"  their  happiness,  well-being,  and  spiritual  good."  The 
great  and  moving  cause  of  his  exerting  such  an  influence 
by  his  words  and  manners  over  the  minds  of  people  in 
his  religious  teachings,  as  well  as  his  private  intercourse, 
was  the  spirit  of  sincerity  that  imbued  every  motion, 
while  the  beauty  and  purity  of  his  moral  character 
seemed  to  sanctify  every  word  and  action,  which  eman- 
ated from  him.  With  not  the  slightest  stain  upon  his 
character  from  boyhood,  he  was  such  a  being  as  people 
could  afford  to  reverence,  respect,  and  love. 

Through  the  whole  of  his  long  and  active  career,  Mr. 
Ballou  never  once  turned  aside  from  the  one  great  object 
and  purpose  of  his  heart,  that  of  promulgating  God's 
fatherly  and  impartial  love  to  all  mankind,  as  evinced  in 
the  holy  Scriptures  and  the  dispensations  of  Providence. 

In  a  poem,  ending  with  the  two  following  verses,  he 
has  himself  expressed  his  devoted  zeal  better  than  we 
can  do. 

"  Not  all  thy  foes  on  earth  can  say 
Can  turn  my  heart  from  thee  away  ; 

And  yet  my  heart  is  free  ; 
These  wounds  and  scars,  that  men  despise, 
Are  jewels  precious  in  thine  eyes, 

And  this  is  all  to  me. 


COMMENCES   THE   UNIVERSALIST   EXPOSITOR.      161 

*'  Had  I  ten  thousand  years  to  live. 
Had  I  ten  thousand  lives  to  give, 

All  these  should  be  thine  ovm  ; 
And  that  foul  scorn  thy  foes  bestow 
Still  prove  a  laurel  to  my  brow, 

And  their  contempt  a  throne.'* 

In  this  service  he  never  wrote  or  uttered  a  single 
sentence  that  was  not  peculiar  to  himself  for  its  plainness 
of  purpose,  yet  depth  of  thought,  and  for  strong  logical 
reasoning  to  this  grand  end.  He  possessed  for  his  pur- 
pose a  large  share  of  ready,  manly  eloquence,  not  nervous 
and  startling,  but  cool  and  convincing;  and  this,  coupled 
with  a  natural  quickness  in  discovering  the  strength  or 
weakness  of  an  argument,  ever  insured  him  victory  in 
rehgious  controversy.  No  sarcasm,  no  reflection,  no  im- 
putation could  throw  him  oflf  his  guard  for  one  moment. 
He  was  ever  unruffled,  yet  forcible,  evincing  the  spirit 
of  the  doctrine  which  he  advocated  at  all  times.  It  was 
perfectly  impossible  to  so  excite  him  in  controversy  as  to 
lead  him  to  say  the  least  ungentlemanly,  or  even  abrupt 
thing.  He  stood  for  years  as  a  target  for  the  poisoned 
arrows  of  malice,  bigotry  and  envy,  and  bore  all  with  a 
serene  dignity  of  spirit,  which  a  firm  reliance  in  Heaven 
could  alone  have  given. 

In  his  public  teachings  he  never  indulged  in  abstrac- 
tions, never  ran  away  from  his  theme,  upon  abstruse  and 
visionary  ideas.  He  was  in  this  respect,  as  in  all  others, 
eminently  natural,  eminently  practical,  eminently  orig- 
inal We  do  not  find  nature  teaching  us  by  adducing 
14# 


162  BIOGRAPHY. 

vague  notions  of  facts,  but  rather  by  a  display  of  the  facts 
themselves.  Abstractions  and  transcendentalisms  are  but 
thick  fogs  to  cloud  the  mental  vision,  while  plain  matter- 
of-fiict  is  the  clear,  bright  view  of  truth,  with  the  soft,  rich 
perspective  of  wisdom.  It  is  exceedingly  questionable, 
when  we  hear  a  minister  dilating  upon  the  arts  and 
sciences,  or  leading  his  hearers  off  in  a  vein  of  visionary 
philosophy,  whether  that  man  has  a  religion  worth  preach- 
ing, or  that  is  congenial  to  his  own  heart. 

"He  was  a  man  of  great  originality  and  rcmark- 
'  able  power ^''^  says  Rev.  Mr.  Miner.  "He  walked  not 
'  in  a  beaten  track.  His  method  of  interpretation  was 
'  all  his  own ;  it  was  evolved  by  the  new  faith  which 
'  inspired  him,  and  maintained  throughout  a  self-con- 
'  sistency  unknown  to  biblical  writers  fifty  years  ago. 
'  Though  his  labor  consisted  in  dealinor  wnth  the  most 
'  fiimiliar  statements,  yet  he  never  failed  to  shed  upon 
'  his  theme  a  new  and  diviner  light,  and  to  invest  it  with 
'  rare  and  universal  interest.  It  is  no  condemnation  of 
'  his  method  of  interpretation  to  say  that  it  seemed,  to 
'  the  perverted  understanding  of  that  time,  to  be  forced 
'  and  unnatural.  The  value  of  this  circumstance  may 
'  be  justly  estimated  by  the  fact,  that  the  current  meth- 
'  ods  of  the  world  have  been  constantly  assimilating  to 
'  his  method,  ever  since  it  has  been  in  conflict  with 
'  them. 

"  It  was  in  his  style  of  exposition  and  clearness  of 
'  illustration,  rather  than  in  his  form  of  statement,  that 
'  his   originality  consisted.     It  was   manifested  not  so 


COMMENCES   THE   UNIVERSALIS!   EXPOSITOR.      163 

''  much  by  rhetorical  aids,  as  by  his  vivid  embodiment  of 
"  the  principle  he  would  inculcate.  In  the  early  part  of 
''  his  ministry,  he  had  too  much  hard  work  to  do,  too 
"  many  open  and  covert  foes  to  contend  with,  too  many 
"  hurtful  errors  to  overthrow,  to  permit  him  to  loiter  in 
' '  the  fields  of  literature  for  the  gathering  of  verbal  and 
"  rhetorical  bouquets.  He  needed  not  these  aids.  His 
"  thought  was  rare,  and  burned  with  the  truths  of  God. 
"  Howsoever  expressed,  it  was  sure  to  be  remembered. 
''  The  hearer  might  have  no  recollection  of  the  dress. 
"  Whether  clothed  or  unclothed,  whether  '  in  the  body  or 
''  out  of  the  body,'  he  might  not  be  able  to  say.  One 
"thing,  however,  he  could  say;  a  new  thought,  glowing 
"  like  the  sun  in  the  heavens,  with  a  light  all  its  own, 
"  had  found  a  place  in  his  heart.  He  who  possesses  such  a 
''  power  need  seek  no  other.  The  trappings  of  literature 
"  can  never  do  the  work  of  truth.  They  may  dazzle  the 
"  imagination  ;  but  truth  alone  can  warm  the  heart.  They 
"  may  lead  to  the  admiration  of  man,  but  never  to  the 
*'  adoration  of  God." 

This  is  so  much  in  the  spirit  of  what  we  have  before 
remarked,  that  the  quotation  is  most  applicable. 

Several  short  poems  are  introduced  into  these  pages 
from  Mr.  Ballou's  pen.  They  are  generally  taken  at 
random  from  his  published  fugitive  pieces,  unless  designed 
to  illustrate  some  particular  trait  of  character  or  frame 
of  mind,  some  cherished  principle  of  the  writer's  heart. 
Though  we  claim  no  fame  for  Mr.  Ballou  as  a  poet,  yet 
his  productions  in  this  line  of  composition  are  numerous. 


164  BIOGRAPHY. 

A  volume  of  his  poems  has  hitely  been  collected  and  pub- 
lished, but  these  pieces  were  thrown  oif  in  the  hurry  of 
an  editor's  duty,  and  evince  no  care  on  the  writer's  part. 
He  has  left  us  scraps  of  verse,  however,  which  show  that 
the  power  was  native  in  him,  and  the  poet's  genius  a  part 
of  his  natural  endowment.  The  verses  that  will  close  the 
last  of  this  volume,  though  written  in  old  age,  compare 
favorably  with  those  of  any  production  of  the  kind  we 
have  ever  met  with.  As  late  as  the  year  1844,  he  was 
an  occasional  contributor  of  poems  to  the  press,  of  a  char- 
acter calculated  for  the  times.  These  verses  were  given 
to  the  public  under  the  signature  of  ''Spectator,"  and 
were  designed  to  effect  some  prominent  end,  to  reform 
some  acknowledged  impropriety,  or  to  commend  that 
which  was  good  and  useful.  These,  hoAvever,  were  never 
attributed  to  him,  nor  was  it  known  out  of  his  family 
circle  that  he  had  written  them.  Some  of  them  were 
humorous,  some  pathetic,  some  patriotic.  His  poems 
were  always  easy  and  liquid  in  versification,  full  of 
point  and  meaning,  expressing  much  in  a  few  words, 
while  the  ideas  are  clothed  in  the  sweetest  garb  of  poesy. 
Witness  the  following,  which  is  the  only  one  at  hand  at 
this  time : 

HYMN  FOR  FOURTH  OF  JULY. 

*' Arise  and  hail  the  jubilee, 
The  day  that  set  our  nation  free ; 
In  song  his  honor  chant  who  gave 
Counsel  and  victory  to  the  brave. 


COMMENCES   THE   UNIVERSALIST   EXPOSITOR.      165 

Ye  daughters  fair,  fresh  garlands  weave, 
With  chaplets  strew  the  warrior's  grave  ; 
Lo  !  from  the  mould 'ring  sod  shall  rise 
Fame's  sweetest  incense  to  the  skies. 

Fifty  bright  summer  suns  have  smiled, 
And  fifty  harvest  moons  beguiled 
Childhood  and  youth,  since  vernal  showers 
First  moistened  freedom's  lovely  flowers. 

Let  joy  throughout  our  land  inspire 
Each  manly  heart  with  holy  fire ; 
And  freedom's  song,  by  Miriam  sung, 
Be  heard  from  every  female  tongue." 

We  well  remember  to  have  been  present  on  one  occa- 
sion, when  a  conversation  took  place  between  Mr.  Ballou 
and  a  visitor  who  had  come  from  a  distance  on  purpose  to 
see  and  talk  with  him  on  the  matter  of  religion.  He  was 
vacillating  in  his  faith,  but  was  by  no  means  persuaded 
of  the  truth  of  Universalism.  He  was  a  man  of  wealth, 
had  retired  from  business,  but  having  had  his  mind 
brought  to  a  serious  turn  by  a  very  critical  illness,  which 
had  nearly  proved  fatal  to  him,  he  had  resolved  to  make 
the  Scriptures  his  study  until  he  should  be  able  to  say 
that  he  had  joy  and  peace  in  believing.  This  he  told  Mr. 
Ballou,  who  commended  his  resolution,  promised  to  afford 
him  any  and  all  light  within  his  own  power  to  impart, 
and  sitting  down  together,  they  conversed  for  some  time. 

"I  cannot  see,"  said  the  visitor  at  last,  '-'why  it  is 
*'  that  a  religion  which  promises  its  believers  and  folio w- 
*'  ers  eternal  life   for   obedience,  and   the  woe   of  eter- 


166  BIOGRAPHY. 

'  nal  misery  for  disobedience,  does  not  make  more  truly 
'  religious  people  than  your  doctrine,  which  holds  forth 
'  only  temporary  evil  for  disobedience,  and  temporary 
'  reward  for  obedience.  The  matter  seems  very  plain  to 
'  me." 

''I  will  tell  you  the  reason  of  this,"  said  Mr.  Ballou. 
'  and  in  so  doing  I  will  give  you  an  evidence  also  of  the 
'  truth  of  the  doctrine  I  profess.  The  reason  is  found  in 
'  the  very  nature  of  man,  his  disposition,  and  natural 
'  promptings.  Give  to  him  a  task  to  perform,  threaten 
'  him  with  the  most  fearful  sufferings  and  torment  if  he 
'  fail  to  accomplish  the  duty  you  have  prescribed  for  him, 
'  and  his  calculation  will  naturally  be  to  do  just  as  little 
'  of  the  hated  work  as  it  is  possible  for  him  to  do  and 
'  avoid  the  punishment.  Now,  on  the  other  hand,  you 
'  give  him  an  occupation  which  he  is  satisfied  will  be 
'  productive  of  his  own  happiness  and  good,  that  in  the 
'  very  nature  of  things  will  produce  him  an  ample  and 
'  abundant  reward,  and  the  selfishness  natural  to  man 
'  will  lead  him  to  be  faithful." 

''  It  would  most  certainly  seem  to  be  so,"  answered  the 
visitor,  thoughtfully. 

"  Certainly  this  is  plain  philosophy,"  was  the  answer. 
"  But  I  do  not  exactly  understand  your  application," 
said  the  stranger. 

"  That  is  just  what  I  am  coming  to.  Present  to  man 
"  a  religion  of  which  the  services  are  calculated  to  pro- 
"  mote  his  rational  enjoyment,  which  takes  nothing  from 
"him  without  returning  more  than  its  value,  and  in  the 


COMMENCES  THE  UNIVERSALIST  EXPOSITOR.      167 

"  spirit  of  which  increase  of  duty  is  an  increase  of  happi- 
"  ness,  and  there  is  but  httle  danger  but  that  they  will 
"  eagerly  accept  it.  This  world  is  full  of  labor,  toil,  and 
'*  traffic,  and  the  whole  is  carried  on  by  the  power  of  this 
*'  principle." 

"  I  must  acknowledge  that  religion  has  seemed  to  be 
"  too  much  sustained  by  threats  and  promises,"  said  the 
stranger. 

"  To  be  sure  it  has,"  said  Mr.  Ballou.  ''The  idea  that 
"  we  perform  any  service  in  order  to  escape  punishment, 
"  renders  that  service  tedious  and  irksome  to  us;  while, 
"  on  the  contrary,  duty  is  supreme  delight  when  love  is 
''  the  inducement  and  the  labor."  * 

The  individual  above  referred  to  was  an  Englishman, 
who  came  often  to  Mr.  Ballou's  house  afterwards,  and 
held  similar  conversations.  This  was  no  unusual  case. 
Perfect  strangers  came  and  sat  for  hours  sometimes, 
evidently  seekers  after  truth,  and  anxious  ones  too.  To 
such  Mr.  Ballou  was  ever  condescending,  patient,  and 
took  delight  in  answering  all  their  queries  upon  certain 
doctrinal  points,  explaining  each  passage  referred  to, 
showing  its  bearing  upon  others,  and  challenging  the 
visitor's  respect  by  his  urbanity  and  never- varying  polite- 
ness in  all  things. 

Mr.  Ballou  was  ever  ready  and  prompt  at  an  answer, 
and  his  replies  were  frequently  tempered  with  a  quick 

*  The  recollection  of  this  conversation  was  recalled  to  the  writer's 
mind  by  lately  reading  one  of  Mr.  Ballou's  published  sermons,  where 
a  very  similar  argument  may  be  found. 


168  BIOGRAPHY. 

and  pungent  wit.  He  was  on  a  certain  occasion,  on  his 
way  to  deliver  a  lecture  in  the  town  of  Reading,  Yt., 
surrounded  by  a  number  of  people,  when  an  Orthodox 
deacon,  confronting  him  suddenly,  asked,  with  a  taunting 
air  and  self-sufficient  bearing,  — 

"  Will  you  answer  me  one  question,  Mr.  Ballou?  " 

"  Certainly,  if  I  can  do  so  at  such  short  notice,"  said 
Mr.  Ballou,  smiling  at  the  man's  impetuosity. 

''Well,  sir,"  said  the  deacon,  "  what  will  become  of  a 
''  man  who  goes  out  of  the  world  cursing  and  swearing, 
''  and  calling  on  God  to  damn  his  soul  to  hell? " 

"  Do  you  believe,  my  dear  sir,"  said  Mr.  Ballou, 
''  that  a  righteous  God  would  answer  the  vile  prayer  of 
''  such  a  wicked  wretch  ?  " 

"Why  no,"  said  the  deacon,  "of  course  not." 

"You  have  answered  your  own  question  then,"  said 
Mr.  Ballou,  quietly,  while  the  deacon  turned  away  much 
disconcerted. 

It  is  so  true  that  Folly's  shallow  lip  can  ask  the 
deepest  question,  that  it  is  well  to  remember  sometimes, 
that  a  fool  should  be  answered  according  to  his  folly. 

"  The  frequency  of  his  times  of  preaching,  in  the 
"  former  part  of  his  ministry,"  says  the  editor  of  the 
Repository,  "  can  be  but  ill  imagined  now,  nor  the 
"  intense  interest  with  which  his  message  was  listened  to 
"  by  the  multitude.  At  times  he  w^ould  preach  between 
"two  appointments,  while  his  horse  was  feeding, — his 
"  pulpit  the  base  of  a  noble  oak,  and  the  congregation 
"reverently   standing   in   its    broad    shadow.      Taking 


COMMENCES   THE   UNIVERSALIST   EXPOSITOR.      169 

"  advantage  of  his  haste  in  leaving,  some  question  would 
"  be  asked  him  by  some  restive,  dogmatic  deacon,  and  the 
"  undreamed  of  answer,  that  came  as  the  lightning's  flash, 
"  would  add  new  fuel  to  the  fire  of  interest  he  had  kindled 
'^  in  the  midst  of  the  people." 

In  this  connection  we  are  reminded  of  an  anecdote,  for 
which  we  are  indebted  to  Rev.  Sjlvanus  Cobb,  of  the 
Christian  Freeman.  We  introduce  it  here  to  show  Mr. 
Ballou's  power  of  argument  without  the  least  tincture  of 
ostentation.  It  was  often  his  way  in  debate  to  ask  some 
apparently  simple  but  natural  question,  which  his  oppo- 
nent answering,  as  he  obviously  must  do,  would  almost 
certainly  refute  his  own  fragile  creed  or  position,  and 
himself  and  others  would  be  led  to  see  where  the  truth 
really  was.     Mr.  Cobb  says  :  — 

''  The  world  at  large  have  known  much  of  the  powers 
"  and  genius  of  Mr.  Ballou's  mind  from  his  published 
''  works,  but  he  had  most  lovely  traits  of  character  which 
"  a  personal  acquaintance  only  could  discover.  While  an 
*'  intellectual  giant  in  strength,  he  was  unaffectedly  mod- 
''  est  and  unassuming,  and  never  engaged  in  mere  dis- 
^'putations.  He  would  never  enter  into  a  combat  for 
"  mere  personal  mastery,  nor  pursue  a  noisy  contest  with 
"  one  who  showed  himself  to  be  insincere  and  trickish  ; 
"  while  his  own  meekness  and  simplicity  of  spirit,  com- 
*'  bined  with  his  clearness  of  perception,  would  generally 
''  cut  down  the  swaggering,  cavilling  spirit,  if  he  came  in 
"  contact  with  it. 

*'An  interesting  incident,  illustrative  of  this  amiable- 
15 


170  BIOGRAPHY. 

^^  trait  of  character,  once  occurred  in  a  brief  exchange  of 
''  words  between  him  and  Abner  Kneeland.  Mr.  Knee- 
'Mand  had  become  an  atheist,  and  one  day  came  into  an 
'^'  apartment  where  there  was  a  little  company  of  our  min- 
"  istering  brethren,  among  whom  was  Mr.  Ballou.  Mr. 
"  Kneeknd  was  forward  to  communicate  this  supposed 
''  new  light  to  those  with  whom  he  was  formerly  asso- 
"  ciated  in  the  ministry  of  Christ.  He  could  dispense 
*'  with  the  use  of  a  creator  of  the  world  and  of  man, 
"  regarding  the  physical  universe  and  the  hunmn  species 
^'  as  eternal  in  their  being  without  bednninoj.  Yet  he 
''  got  in  the  idea,  in  the  course  of  the  conversation,  that 
"  man  is  composed  of  the  elements  of  nature. 

"  Mr.  Ballou  had  been  sitting  in  silence,  with  his 
"  elbows  resting  upon  his  knees  (an  attitude  he  often 
"  assumed  when  listening  attentively  to  an  argument). 
"  At  this  point  he  raised  his  head,  and  assumed  an  erect 
*'  position  of  body,  and  said  :  — 

"  '  Bro.  Kneeland,  you  seem  to  have  thought  a  great 
"  deal  on  these  subjects,  and  perhaps  you  can  give  me 
''  some  useful  information.  Now  we  see  around  us,  in 
"the  city  and  country,  a  great  many  wooden  houses. 
*'  Of  what  are  these  houses  made?' 

"  '  They  are  made  of  timbers,  boards,  shingles,  and  the 
"like,'  answered  Mr.  Kneeland. 

"'And  out  of  what,'  said  Mr.  Ballou,  'are  these 
"  boards  and  shingles  made '? ' 

"  '  Out  of  trees,'  replied  Mr.  K. 

"*Then,'   said  Mr.  Ballou,   'all  wooden  houses  "were 


COMMENCES   THE   UNIVERSALIST   EXPOSITOR.      171 

''made  out  of  trees.  If  so,  must  there  not  have  been 
''  trees  before  there  was  a  wooden  house?' 

"  'Yes,'  said  the  other,  'of  course.' 

'"Well,  I  thought  so,'  said  Mr.  Ballou  ;  '  and  now,' 
"  continued  he,  '  here  are  manj  brick  houses,  —  of  what 
"  are  thej  made?  ' 

"'Thejare  made,'  answered  Mr.  Kneeland,  'out  of 
"  bricks,  which  are  composed  of  clay  and  sand.'  - 

'"Well,  then,'  said  Mr.  Ballou,  'if  all  brick  houses 
"  are  made  of  bricks,  which  are  composed  of  clay  and 
"  sand,  must  there  not  have  been  bricks  before  there  was 
"  a  brick  house,  and  clay  and  sand  before  there  was  a 
"brick?' 

"  Mr.  Kneeland  now,  perceiving  what  application  Mr. 
"  Ballou  was  about  to  make  of  his  concessions,  to  explain 
"  his  philosophy  of  having  men  composed  of  the  elements 
"  of  nature  and  yet  having  no  elements  of  nature  before 
"  there  were  men,  began  to  equivocate  !  He  would  not 
"  admit  the  inference  from  the  fact  that  all  brick  houses 
"  w^ere  made  of  bricks,  etc.,  and  he  even  retraced  his 
"  steps,  and  took  back  what  he  had  admitted  in  respect  to 
"  wooden  houses. 

"'What!'  said  Mr.  Ballou,  'if  all  wooden  houses 
"  were  made  of  trees,  must  there  not  have  been  trees 
"  before  there  were  wooden  houses?' 

"'Noj'  replied  Mr.  Kneeland,  'that  need  not  fol- 
"low?' 

"  'Well,  then,'  said  Mr.  Ballou,  ^hoio  stupid  I amf 

"And  as  he  uttered  these  words,  he  dropped  his  head 


172  BIOGRAPHY. 

"again,  and  let  himself  back  into  a  posture  of  quiet  rest. 
''  Mr.  Kneeland  at  the  same  time  choked  and  blushed, 
*'  and  attempted  to  recover  himself  for  renewed  conversa- 
"  tion,  but  he  evidently  could  not,  and  so  took  his  depar- 
"  ture. 

'^  This  is  but  one  of  many  incidents  which  might  be 
''  cited  to  illustrate  Mr.  Ballou's  simplicity  in  the  pur- 
"  suit  and  love  of  truth,  his  readiness  with  argument  for 
"  its  support  and  advancement,  in  connection  with  a 
''  modest,  unassuming  habit,  and  a  hatred  of  bluster  and 
*'  noisy  strife." 

A  volume  might  be  filled  with  anecdotes  equally  char- 
acteristic of  Mr.  Ballou's  manner  and  style  of  argument, 
had  we  the  necessary  time  to  collect  them.  But  we  trust 
that  the  few  that  are  compiled  and  given  to  our  readers 
herewith,  may  sufficiently  familiarize  them  with  the  sub- 
ject's character,  both  as  a  Christian  and  as  a  theologian. 
Since  commencing  this  work,  a  vast  number  of  anecdotes 
have  suorcrested  themselves  to  the  writer's  mind,  and 
others,  new  to  him,  have  been  submitted  by  friends ;  but 
only  such  as  have  been  considered  valuable  as  illustrating 
his  character,  and  which  are  known  to  be  authentic,  have 
been  selected  for  publication  in  these  pages. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

DOMESTIC   AND    PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS. 

All  who  knew  Mr.  Ballou  intimately,  can  bear  wit- 
ness that  his  home  was  a  happy  one.  This,  of  course, 
was  owing  to  the  manner  in  which  he  had  framed  and 
modeled  that  home  after  his  own  heart  and  the  dictates 
of  the  religion  he  professed.  He  was  the  master  mind 
there;  his  word  was  law,  his  simplest  wish  strictly  com- 
plied with.  He  was  looked  up  to  with  a  degree  of 
respect  and  veneration  by  his  children,  that  was  an  abid- 
ing evidence  of  his  true  character.  In  the  government 
of  his  family,  he  led^  but  never  drove,  his  children,  en- 
deavoring, to  the  utmost  of  his  ability,  to  bring  them  up 
in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord,  and,  taking 
his  divine  Master  for  his  example,  he  governed  them  by 
love  and  kindness  alone. 

He  was  strongly  characterized  for  his  fondness  of 
domestic  enjoyment,  and  throughout  his  whole  life,  to  the 
very  end,  evinced  the  most  constant  and  tenderest  solici- 
tude for  each  and  all  of  his  children.  Even  after  they 
15* 


174  BIOGRAPHY. 

bad  married  and  settled  in  life,  with  families  about  tbem, 
this  solicitude  continued  as  ardent  as  ever ;  nor  was  there 
one  of  those  children  who  would  undertake  any  matter 
of  importance  without  first  consulting  his  wishes  in  the 
premises,  and  seeking  his  advice  upon  the  subject;  so 
highly  were  both  respected  and  esteemed.  This  is  men- 
tioned in  this  connection,  not  as  an  encomium  upon  the 
family,  but  simply  to  show  the  reader  the  universal  love 
and  respect  that  its  head  always  commanded.  We  find 
this  subject  referred  to  by  Rev.  Henry  Bacon,  in  his  pub- 
lished remarks  concerning  the  decease  of  the  subject  of 
this  biography.  He  refers  to  the  respect  in  which  his 
advice  was  held  upon  secular  matters,  not  only  in  his  own 
family,  but  by  others  of  his  acquaintance. 

"He  was  great,"  says  Mr.  Bacon,  "in  the  clearness 
*'with  which  he  saw  the  essential  truths  of  the  gospel, 
"  and  in  the  power  with  which  he  communicated  them  to 
"others,  by  that  spirit  of  calm  earnestness,  and  that  won- 
"drous  faculty  to  make  himself  intelligible,  which  pecu- 
"liarly  distinguished  him.  He  was  great  as  a  logician; 
"great  in  wisdom  that  penetrates  to  the  reahty  of  char- 
"  acter,  and  opens  the  real  motives  that  sway  the  man ; 
"  and  his  counsel  in  matters  far  removed  from  his 
^^  peculiar  walk  in  life  ivas  weighed  as  the  utterance 
"  of  an  oracle  that  must  7iot  be  slighted.  Simple  in  his 
"habits,  he  lost  nothing  of  life  in  indulgences  that  rob 
"  existence  of  its  serenity ;  fixed  in  a  few  great  princi- 
"ples,  he  made  everything  contribute  thereto  for  the 
"enlargement  of  his  views  of  men  and  things ;  and,  rev- 


DOMESTIC   AND   PERSONAL    CHARACTERISTICS.     175 

*'€rencing  tlie  Scriptures  -with  a  depth  of  reliance  that 
''  was  beautiful  to  behold,  he  brought  forth  the  harmonies 
*'of  the  divine  Word  in  a  manner  that  suggested  more 
"than  he  ever  expressed,  though  he  expressed  enough  to 
"satisfy  millions  of  souls." 

May  we  add  here,  how  grateful  such  words  of  apprecia- 
tion are  to  the  hearts  of  his  family. 

The  following  was  furnished  us  by  Rev.  Thomas 
Whittemore,  and  would  seem  to  come  most  properly 
under  this  chapter  of  Domestic  and  Personal  Character- 
istics. Mr.  Whittemore  was  solicited  for  something  rel- 
ative to  the  subject,  being  so  old  and  valued  a  friend  of 
the  deceased,  and  he  thus  speaks  :  — 

"  The  life  of  Hosea  Ballou  is,  in  almost  every  respect, 
"pleasing  to  contemplate.  It  was  a  very  active  life. 
"  He  travelled  much,  he  preached  often,  he  studied  con- 
"  tinually,  and  he  wrote  not  a  little.  In  the  earlier  part 
"of  his  life  he  joined  teaching  of  the  young  in  the  com- 
"  mon  sciences  to  his  other  avocations.  No  small  portion 
"of  his  leisure  time  he  spent  in  reading ;  but  he  thought 
"  more  than  he  read.  Ho  was  always  digging  for  gold  ; 
"not,  however,  in  books,  but  in  the  mine  of  his  own  in- 
"  tellect.     His  mind  was  very  active. 

"  The  most  pleasing  part  of  his  life  was  his  serene  old 
"ao-e.  The  writer  of  this  remembers  him  well  when  he 
"  was  forty  years  of  age.  Ten  years  afterwards,  the  writer 
-"  entered  his  family  to  pursue  a  course  of  studies  for  the 
"  ministry.  Mr.  B.'s  mind  at  fifty  seemed  never  at  rest. 
"  If  not  reading,  he  was  busily  engaged  in  mental  effort. 


176  BIOGRAPHY. 

''  Often,  Tvhen  he  'was  "w.ilking  in  the  streets,  have  we 
"  seen  his  h'ps  move,  as  if  he  were  talking.  At  his  home, 
"  he  would  sit  frequently  with  his  cjcs  closed,  his  lips 
'^  moving,  as  if  holding  conversation  with  some  invisible 
*'  person  ;  and  when  he  apparently  came  to  some  crisis  in 
''  his  meditations,  he  showed  some  outward  sign  of  his 
"  feelings,  sometimes  by  a  smile,  at  others  by  suppressed 
"laughter,  at  others  by  a  sigh. 

"  A  mind  thus  active  is  in  danger  of  disturbing,  if  too 
''  much  indulged,  the  proper  action  of  the  digestive  pow- 
*'ers,  which,  in  their  turn,  react  upon  the  mind,  and 
"  produce  lowness  of  spirits  and  gloom.  Mr.  Ballou  at 
"  fifty  was  troubled  in  this  way.  His  heart  had  an  affec- 
"  tion  sympathetic  with  the  stomach,  and  its  action  was 
"  irregular  and  intermittent.  At  this  point  of  his  life,  he 
"  had  Hved  but  three  or  four  years  in  Boston  ;  and  he  had 
''  had  occasion  to  perform  a  large  amount  both  of  mental 
''and  physical  labor.  He  had  preached  three  times 
"almost  every  Sabbath;  had  edited,  for  two  years,  the 
"  '  Universalist  Magazine;'  had  visited  many  parts  of  the 
"country  to  preach  the  gospel,  sometimes  under  very 
"  animating  circumstances  ;  and  these  complicated  labors 
"were  too  much  for  him.  His  most  sagacious  friends 
"  then  had  fears  either  that  he  would  not  live  to  old  age, 
"  or,  if  he  did,  that  his  later  years  would  be  unquiet. 

"We  remember,  with  very  great  satisfaction,  the  ex- 
"ceeding  gentleness  and  amiabihty  of  his  wife,  in  the 
"days  of  which  we  speak.  While  this  excellent  lady 
*' still  survives,  it  is  not  proper  for  us  to  express  all 


DOMESTIC   AND    PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.     177 

'that  may  be  justly  said  of  her.  She  presided  over 
^  her  household  with  a  fidelity,  a  blandness,  a  kindness, 
*  steady  as  the  current  of  a  river,  and  unruffled  as  a  lake 
'  in  the  calmest  day.  This  season  of  intermixture  of 
'  health  and  sickness,  joy  and  sadness,  light  and  shade, 
'  continued  for  some  half  dozen  years,  when  it  was  very 
'gratifying  to  Mr.  B.'s  friends  to  see  that  each  change 
'  denoted  that  his  life  might  be  protracted  perhaps  to  old 
'age,  and  that,  perad venture,  his  old  age  should  be  as 
'  serene  as  his  earlier  days  had  been  laborious  and  useful. 
'  Such  proved  to  be  the  fact.  He  died  in  his  eighty- 
'  second  year,  and  his  life  grew  more  and  more  serene 
'unto  its  close;  like  the  sun,  obscured  somewhat  by 
'  passing  clouds  at  noon,  but  shining  clearly  during  the 
'  rest  of  the  day,  making  its  course  through  the  western 
'  sky,  and  passing  away  from  the  earth,  as  it  were,  into 
'  the  boundless  heavens  beyond. 

"  This  quiet  old  age  I  attribute  to  several  circum- 
'  stances.  Mr.  Ballou  was  a  man  of  sound  sense.  It 
'  was  his  aim  to  make  the  best  of  everything.  He  was  a 
'  Christian  philosopher.  He  sought  to  rule  his  own 
'  spirit.  He  believed  that  humility  and  meekness  were 
'  the  brightest  jewels  in  the  Christian's  crown.  He  had 
'a  firm  trust  in  his  Maker's  goodness.  He  believed 
'  that  God  was  the  Sovereign  of  the  universe,  a  Father 
'  of  infinite  goodness,  as  well  as  of  infinite  power,  who 
'  executed  his  will  in  the  armies  of  heaven,  and  among 
'  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  ;  and  who,  by  everything 
'  which  he  did,  and  by  everything  which  he  permitted  to 


178  BIOGRAPHY. 

"be  done,  was  seeking  infallibly  the  good  of  his  crea- 
*'  tures.  What  an  influence  -would  such  a  faith  exert  on 
"Mr.  Ballou's  life  ! 

"Added  to  this,  he  had  a  wife  whose  constant  effort 
"  and  highest  joy  was  to  make  her  husband  happy.  Few 
"  such  women  have  lived.  It  is  my  duty  to  declare, 
"that,  during  thirty  years'  acquaintance  with  her,  I 
"never  have  heard  the  first  unkind  word  from  her  lips, 
"respecting  any  human  being.  Towards  her  husband, 
"there  was  a  devotion  that  never  tired.  It  was  her  con- 
"  stant  desire  and  aim  to  make  him  useful  and  happy. 
"  She  appeared  well  in  any  society,  but  home  was  her 
"genial  sphere.  Much  of  the  quiet  of  Father  Ballou's 
"  old  age  must  be  attributed  to  her.  His  children,  also, 
"  have  been  sources  of  great  comfort  to  him.  They  dili- 
"  gently  aimed  to  make  him  happy.  He  loved  them  all 
"with  surpassing  tenderness,  and  they  loved  him  in 
"consequence.  Had  anything  unfavorable  happened  to 
"either  of  his  children,  it  would  have  been  hke  a  dart 
"driven  through  his  soul.  We  know  that,  even  in  that 
"case,  his  religion  and  his  philosophy  would  have  come 
"  to  his  aid  ;  he  would  have  believed  that  God  had  a  wise 
"purpose  in  it;  but,  even  with  that  alleviation,  it  must 
"greatly  have  disturbed  his  life.  No  such  affliction, 
"  however,  awaited  him.  Two  of  his  sons  became  preach- 
"  ers  of  the  same  gospel  which  he  had  defended,  and  by 
"  their  prudent  lives  gained  the  respect  of  all  who  knew 
"  them.  They  have  not,  like  many  clergymen,  moved 
"  frequently  from  place  to  place,  but,  for  about  a  quarter 


DOMESTIC   AND    PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.     179 

'of  a  century,  have  remained  stationary  pastors.  In 
'  respect  to  the  goods  of  this  world,  they  have  been  pru- 
*•  dent,  and  have  prospered.  ^  *  *  ^  The  daugh- 
'  ters  have  all  been  married  to  faithful,  kind,  and  prudent 
'  husbands,  of  whom  two  are  preachers  of  the  gospel,  and 
'all, men  of  respectability,  intelligence,  and  thrift. 

'•  Such  have  been  the  circumstances  of  Father  Ballou's 
'  family.  But  we  have  yet  to  mention  another  source  of 
'  the  happiness  of  his  last  days.  He  saw  himself  stand- 
'  ing  at  the  head  of  a  large  and  prosperous  body  of 
'  Christians,  who  loved  and  venerated  him  for  his  labors, 
'  the  purity  of  his  character,  and  the  good  he  had  done. 
'  He  saw  their  regard  for  him  manifested  at  such  times, 
'  and  in  such  ways,  that  he  had  reason  to  believe  it  was 
'  not  done  for  eifect,  but  was  the  outgushing  of  the  real 
'feeling  of  their  hearts.  At  the  meetings  of  conven- 
'tions,  associations,  and  other  public  bodies,  all  were 
'happy  to  greet  the  old  soldier  of  the  cross.  His 
'  strength  was  spared  to  him  to  such  a  degree,  that  he 
'  was  able  to  travel  and  preach  up  to  the  close  of  his  life. 
'  His  last  sermon  was  delivered  within  eight  days  of  his 
'  death.  He  used  frequently  to  say  that  it  seemed  to 
'him  no  man  had  more  to  be  thankful  for  than  he. 
'  Prudence  in  diet ;  prudence  in  labor ;  a  kind  heart ;  an 
'  affectionate  companion ;  loving  children ;  ease  in  his 
'worldly  circumstances;  the  homage  of  the  class  of 
'  Christians  to  which  he  belonged ;  the  respect  of  man- 
'  kind  at  large  ;  ability  to  pursue  his  favorite  calling  to 
'  the  end  of  hfe  ;  a  strong  trust  in  God,  whose  commands 


180  BIOGRAPHY. 

'^  he  souglit  diligently  to  obey  ;  — these  were  the  causes 
"  of  the  serenity  of  his  old  age.  '  Mark  the  perfect  man, 
'*  and  behold  the  upright :  for  the  end  of  that  man  is 
^' peace.'     Psalm  37:  37." 

Especially  was  he  fond  of  children  and  infants.  This 
was  a  markedly  prominent  feature  in  his  feelings ;  and 
children,  too,  never  failed  to  make  friends  with  him  at 
once.  In  our  own  humble  experience,  we  have  made  this 
a  criterion  of  judgment  in  character.  He  who  warmly 
and  quickly  interests  a  child, —  whose  temperament  is 
such  that  infancy  can  easily  assimilate  with  it, —  whose 
sympathies  are  of  a  nature  quickly  to  unite  when  brought 
in  contact  with  childhood, —  that  man  has  at  heart  much 
of  the  real  purity  and  innocence  which  are  the  main 
characteristics  of  those  whom  the  Saviour  blessed.  We 
never  saw  a  child  shun  or  turn  away  from  him ;  but  we 
have  seen  scores  of  those  who  were  strangers,  put  out 
their  little  hands  and  go  willingly  to  him.  In  his  own 
family  circle  his  love  of  children  found  ample  scope 
and  a  genial  field  for  exercise. 

More  than  forty  of  his  own  grandchildren  might  have 
been  gathered  together  at  one  time  during  his  life.  But, 
as  we  have  intimated,  it  was  not  with  these  alone  that  the 
spirit  we  refer  to  was  evinced ;  it  was  the  same  with  one 
as  with  another.  All  children  he  dearly  loved,  and  par- 
ticularly noticed.  There  seemed  to  be  a  magic  power  in 
his  voice,  and  in  the  gentle  beaming  of  his  clear,  expressive 
eyes,  that  carried  assurance  to  their  timid  bosoms;  and 
they  would  nestle  happy  and  undismayed  in  his  arms,  or 


DOMESTIC   AND    PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.      181 

listen  to  his  words,  so  cunningly  adapted  to  the  powers  of 
their  tender  intellect. 

The  secret  of  Mr.  Ballou's  remarkable  success  in  his 

family  government,  was,   doubtless,  his   following  those 

rules  which  he  has  so  w^ell  expressed  and  laid  down  for 

others.     It  is  a  valuable  excerpt  that  he  has  left,  and  we 

doubt  not  that  the  reader  will  thank  us  for  introducing  it 

here,  and  in  his  own  words :  —  "When  giving  to  your 

'  children  commands,  be  careful  that  you  speak  with  a 

'  becoming  dignity,  as  if  not  only  the  right,  but  the  wis- 

'■  dom  also  to  command,  was  with  you.     Be  careful  not 

'  to  discover  a  jealousy  that  your  injunctions  may  not  be 

'  attended  to ;  for  if  the  child  sees  that  you  have  your 

'  doubts,  they  will  lead  the  child  to  doubt  too.     Be  cau- 

'  tious  never  to  give  your  commands  in  a  loud  voice,  nor 

'  in  haste.     If  you  must  speak  loudly  in  order  to  be 

'  obeyed,  when  it  is  not  convenient  to  raise  your  voice 

'  you  must  expect  to  be  disobeyed ;  and  if  it  be  conve- 

'  nient  for  you  to  speak  loudly,  you  must  remember  it  is 

'  inconvenient  for  others  to  hear  it. 

"  But,  with  regard  to  manner,  be  careful  to  speak  in  a 
^  soft,  tender,  kind  and  loving  way.  Even  when  you 
'  have  occasion  to  rebuke,  be  careful  to  do  it  with  mani- 
'  fest  kindness.  The  effects  will  be  incalculably  better. 
'  When  you  are  obliged  to  deny  the  request  that  your 
^  child  may  make,  do  not  allow  yourself  to  do  this  with 
'  severity.  It  is  enough  for  our  dear  little  ones  to 
'  be  denied  of  what  they  may  think  they  want,  without 
16 


182  BIOGRAPHY. 

"  being  nearly  knocked  down  with  a  sharp  voice  ringing 
"  in  their  tender  ears. 

"  If  you  practise  severity,  speak  harshly,  frequently 
"  punish  in  anger,  you  will  find  your  children  will  imbibe 
"  your  spirit  and  manners.  First  you  will  find  that  they 
''  will  treat  each  other  as  you  treat  them;  and  after  they 
"  arrive  to  a  little  age,  they  will  treat  you  with  unkind 
"  and  unbecoming  replies.  But  if  you  are  wise,  and 
"treat  your  little  ones  with  tenderness,  you  will  fix  the 
"  image  of  love  in  their  minds,  and  they  will  love  you  and 
*'  each  other,  and  in  their  conversation  will  imitate  the 
"  conversation  which  they  have  heard  from  the  tenderest 
"  friend  which  children  have  on  earth." 

In  this  connection  we  are  reminded  of  a  letter,  lately 
published,  from  Mrs.  C.  A.  Soule,  relative  to  her  impres- 
sions touching  the  death  of  the  subject  of  this  memoir. 
It  will  be  remembered  that  her  husband  was  a  warm  and 
cherished  friend  of  Mr.  Ballou's,  and  that  he  was  associ- 
ated with  him  as  colleague  over  the  Second  Universalist 
Society,  in  School-street,  Boston,  as  late  as  1845. 

"  As  vividly  as  though  it  were  but  yesterday,  does 
"  memory  bring  to  me  that  sunny  April  day,  in  1844, 
"  when  I  first  entered  the  sanctuary  where  he  had  min- 
"  istered  so  many  years.  There  was  a  dedication  service, 
*'  and  I  thought  then,  and  I  think  now,  that  I  never  gazed 
"  upon  a  more  impressive  sight  than  was  presented  at 
*'  that  moment,  when  the  aged  pastor  took  in  his  arms  the 
*'  little  helpless  babe,  and  in  touching  words  consecrated 
"it   to   Him   who  said    '  Sufier   little  children  to  come 


DOMESTIC   AND    PERSONAL    CHARACTERISTICS.      183 

'unto  me.'  That  picture  of  infancy  and  age, —  howl 
'  longed  for  a  pencil  to  sketch  it !  Thank  Heaven,  mem- 
'  ory,  with  faithful  touch,  inscribed  it  on  my  heart,  and 
'  it  will  ever  hang  there,  one  of  its  most  beautiful  pic- 
'  tures.  And  now  I  see  him  at  my  own  threshold.  I 
'  meet  him,  and  present  him  my  own  little  one,  my  first- 
'  born.  How  tenderly  he  caresses  it !  Long  he  looks 
'  into  her  laughing  eyes,  and  then  exclaims,  in  a  tone  I 
'  can  never  forget,  '  How  I  wish  I  could  read  her 
'  thoughts  ! '  Then,  sitting  down,  he  tells  me  that  he 
'  never  yet  looked  on  a  babe  without  longing  to  know  the 
'  workings,  the  thoughts,  of  the  infant  mind ;  and  after- 
'  wards  gave  me  some  excellent  advice  about  so  training 
'  that  little  one  that  when  age  should  enable  her  to  reveal 
'  her  thoughts,  they  might  all  be  pure  and  beautiful. 
'  How  lifelike  is  the  portrait  I  have  of  him  in  my  mind's 
'  eye  !  It  seems  so  palpable  that  I  almost  feel  the  light 
'  as  it  streams  from  that  thrilling  eye,  and  hear  the 
'  eloquent  words  that  tremble  on  that  '  heaven- touched 
'  tongue.'  " 

In  illustration  of  the  feelings  which  influenced  him  as 
it  regarded  intercourse  with  his  children,  and  consideration 
for  their  enjoyment,  and  sympathy  with  them  even  in 
many  seeming  trifles,  we  relate  the  following  anecdote, 
which,  though  perhaps  trifling  in  itself,  is  by  no  means 
"without  value  in  point  of  application. 

When  Mr.  Ballou  engaged,  in  1834,  to  go  to  New 
York  and  Philadelphia,  it  became  known  to  one  of  his 
parishioners,  who  desired  to  send  his  child,  a  young  lady, 


184  BIOGRAPHY. 

to  the  latter  city,  on  a  visit  to  some  relations  or  friends. 
His  request  to  take  clmrge  of  the  young  person  was 
cheerfully  acceded  to  by  Mr.  Ballou.  It  so  happened  that 
the  person  who  was  to  accompany  him  was  a  classmate  at 
school  and  a  very  intimate  companion  of  one  of  his  own 
daughters,  the  eldest  then  at  home.  When  this  daughter 
learned  that  her  classmate  was  to  accompany  her  father 
on  his  journey,  she  could  not  but  express  a  wish  that  she 
were  going  also.  There  were  no  railroad  conveniences 
then,  nor  were  scarcely  any  of  the  present  accommoda- 
tions for  travelling  perfected.  It  was  not  only  consider- 
able of  an  undertaking  to  commence  a  journey  of  three 
hundred  miles,  but  it  necessarily  involved  not  a  trifling 
expense. 

It  came  to  the  ears  of  Mr.  Ballou  that  his  child  really 
desired  to  accompany  him ;  and,  when  he  understood  the 
circumstances,  he  immediately  gave  his  consent, —  telling 
her,  playfully,  not  to  say  anything  to  her  young  friend  of 
this,  but  that  he  would  manage  an  agreeable  surprise  for 
her.  The  stage  came  to  the  house  very  early  on  the 
morning  appointed  for  starting, —  long  before  daylight. 
Mr.  Ballou  and  his  daughter  got  in,  and  took  their  places 
on  the  back  seat,  the  latter  well  wrapped  up  about  the 
face.  They  then  drove  to  the  house  of  her  schoolmate, 
who  was  to  accompany  them.  She  also  took  her  place  in 
the  vehicle,  exchanging  a  salutation  with  Mr.  Ballou,  and 
they  drove  off  in  the  darkness.  It  was  not  long  before 
the  young  lady  took  occasion  to  remark,  casually,  to  Mr. 
Ballouj  how  agreeable  it  would  have  been  could  Elmina 


DOMESTIC   AND   PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.     185 

(the  daughter)  have  accompanied  them.  "  Very,  — 
very  indeed,"  said  Mr.  Ballou;  and  they  still  drove 
quietly  on.  At  last,  the  city  being  now  left  far  behind, 
and  daylight  having  appeared,  Mr.  Ballou  asked  the 
young  lady  if  she  knew  the  person  by  her  side.  On  hear- 
ing this  inquiry,  she  turned  to  see  her  neighbor's  face, 
and  lo  !•  it  was  her  classmate  and  dearest  friend  with  whom 
she  had  been  thus  seated  so  long  without  recognizing  her ! 
The  daughter  has  since  often  declared  that  she  knew  not 
which  enjoyed  the  ruse  most  on  this  occasion, —  father  or 
child. 

During  the  year  1845,  Mr.  Ballou,  being  then  sev- 
enty-four years  of  age,  wrote  and  published  two  or  three 
essays  in  the  Universalist  Quarterly,  upon  certain  pas- 
sages of  scripture  which  had  seemed  to  be  a  stumbling- 
block  to  many  of  his  own  denomination.  One  of  these 
texts  was  that  commencing,  "In  my  Father's  house  are 
many  mansions,"  etc.  This,  by  some  of  the  order  of 
Universalists,  was  supposed  to  signify  that  in  the  future 
state  there  would  be  different  degrees  of  blessedness,  in 
proportion  to  the  worthiness  of  the  spirit,  or  to  its  moral 
character  and  mental  cultivation.  This  idea  was  thor- 
oughly exploded,  as  it  regarded  many  minds,  by  the 
article  referred  to,  which  was  thus  the  means  of  convert- 
ing many  doubtful  minds,  as  they  acknowledged,  some 
of  them  orally,  and  some  by  letters  addressed  to  him 
from  at  home  and  abroad.  The  clear,  logical  style  of 
reasoning  evinced  in  this  essay,  and  in  one  published  by 
him  not  long  subsequent  in  the  Quarterly,  relative  to  the 
16* 


186  BIOGRAPHY. 

question  as  to  what  influence  our  present  being  may  have 
on  our  future  existence,  showed  conclusively  that  the  full 
strength  and  vigor  that  originally  rendered  his  writings  so 
forcible  were  with  him  still,  that  his  mental  vision  was  as 
keen  as  ever,  and  that  none  of  his  powers  of  intellect  had 
waned  in  their  fire. 

These  articles  were  penned  as  correctly  and  distinctly, 
as  it  regarded  the  chirography,  as  was  his  early  custom, 
and  generally  written,  if  not  at  one  sitting,  within  the 
space  of  a  few  hours  ;  for,  when  he  had  anything  to  do, 
he  could  not  feel  contented  until  it  was  done.  The  arti- 
cle completed,  he  would  carefully  fold  it,  and  wend  his 
way  personally  to  the  publishing-house  in  Cornhill,  and 
deposit  it  there,  never  failing  at  the  appointed  time  to 
read  the  proof,  concerning  which  he  was  very  sensitive, 
and  very  correct.  It  was  but  a  few  days  prior  to  his 
decease  that  he  read  thus  the  proof-sheets  of  his  last 
article,  furnished  for  the  Universalist  Quarterly. 

In  the  manuscript  which  Mr.  Ballou  furnished  the 
author  of  this  biography,  there  appears  written  about  this 
period,  the  fall  of  1845,  the  following  interesting  para- 
graph relative  to  the  immense  change  that  he  had  lived 
to  see  transpire  in  the  religious  world  about  him. 

'•  Since  I  came  to  this  city,  I  have  enjoyed  the  happi- 
''ness  of  seeing  the  cause  of  religion  prosper,  and  the 
"different  denominations  growing  more  liberal  and  more 
''  charitable  towards  each  other.  I  have  seen,  too,  my 
''  own  peculiar  views  received  very  generally,  and  regarded 
**  very  favorably  by  the  denomination  to  which  I  have 


DOMESTIC   AND   PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.     187 

^'  belonged  from  the  commencement  of  my  public  labors. 
''  Since  I  came  here  I  have  been  rejoiced  to  see  the  won- 
''  derful  increase  of  Universalist  societies  in  Boston  and 
''  the  neic^hborino;  towns,  as  well  as  in  the  other  States 
''  of  our  Union.  There  are  firmly  established  ones  now 
"  in  Roxbury,  Cambridgeport,  East  Cambridge.  Medford, 
"  Maiden,  etc.,  besides  five  or  six  in  Boston,  to  the  com- 
"  mencement  and  building  up  of  which  I  have  had  the 
"  pleasure  of  adding  my  mite  by  way  of  labor." 

It  was  very  natural  that  he  should  then  contrast  the 
state  and  condition  of  the  cause  with  its  feebleness  when 
he  first  came  to  Boston.  A  few  scattered  believers  were 
all  it  numbered  then;  persecution  and  obloquy  greeted 
its  defenders  at  every  step.  To  be  called  a  Universalist 
was  equivalent  to  being  called  anything  vile  and  wicked, 
and  the  name  was  held  as  one  of  reproach  by  nearly  all. 
But  how  vastly  different  was  the  prospect  that  presented 
itself  to  his  view  in  the  closing  days  of  his  life,  and  how 
grateful  this  must  have  been  to  him  who  had  borne  the 
burthen  and  the  heat  of  the  day  !  He  saw  the  denom- 
ination vastly  extended.  He  saw  Universalists  respected 
not  only  for  numbers,  but  for  the  goodly  influence  they 
exerted  far  and  wide. 

He  saw  that  there  were  now  nineteen  annual  state  con- 
ventions, eighty-two  associations-,  eight  missionary  socie- 
ties, ten  hundred  and  seventy  societies,  professing  the 
doctrine ;  seven  hundred  and  ninety-nine  meeting-houses 
devoted  to  this  worship,  and  some  seven  hundred  preach- 
ers in  his  Master's  vineyard,  who  taught  the  doctrine  of 


188  BIOGRAPHY. 

God's  impartial  grace.  These,  and  other  facts  equally 
illustrating  the  wonderful  change  he  had  witnessed,  caused 
him,  when  toasted  and  called  upon  at  the  late  festival  of 
brethren  in  Boston,  to  speak  to  them,  to  say,  that  as  he 
gazed  on  the  crowd  before  him,  and  thought  of  the  mul- 
titude they  represented,  he  was  reminded  of  the  begin- 
ning of  Universalism  in  New  England,  and  to  quote  the 
words  of  the  prophet:  "  There  was  a  handful  of  corn  in 
"the  top  of  the  mountain,  but  its  fruit  shall  shake  like 
"  Lebanon  !  " 

How  apt  and  true  the  quotation. 

We  have  seen  that  the  vigor  and  keenness  of  Mr.  Bal* 
lou's  mind  had  in  no  way  abated,  that  every  mental 
faculty  still  shone  brightly  as  at  the  prime  of  his  man- 
hood. Let  us  show  the  reader  statistically  what  that 
mind  had  performed  in  its  time.  During  his  profes- 
sional life  he  delivered  over  ten  thotisand  sermons. 
This  calculation,  which  at  first  appears  to  be  so  very  large, 
is  nevertheless  strictly  correct,  and  will  not  seem  to  be 
overrated,  when  we  call  to  mind  the  fact  that  for  more 
than  thirty  years  of  his  ministration  he  not  only  preached 
three  times  every  Sabbath,  but  frequently  for  several 
consecutive  days  of  the  week  beside.  Until  within  five 
or  ten  years  past,  three  sermons  on  the  Sabbath  has  been 
his  usual  performance,  in  the  line  of  his  professional  duty. 
And  after  his  sermons  in  country  towns,  the  answering 
of  questions,  and  the  conversation  he  was  obliged  to  hold 
in  private  with  honest  seekers  after  truth,  were  quite  as 
laborious,  in  fact,  as  were  his  public  services  in  the  pulpit. 


DOMESTIC  AND   PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.     189 

We  have  known  him  to  occupy  nearly  half  the  night,  not 
unfrequently,  in  this  manner,  patiently  and  zealously. 

Including  his  essays  and  treatises  upon  doctrinal  sub- 
jects, his  fugitive  sermons  furnished  for  the  different 
magazines  and  papers  of  which  he  was  editor  for  a  long 
period  of  time,  and  afterwards  a  constant  contributor  to 
the  very  end  of  his  life,  beside  a  large  number  which 
appeared  in  pamphlet  form,  and  of  which  no  particular 
mention  is  made  in  these  pages,  and  the  works  herein 
referred  to,  Mr.  Ballou  has  written  and  published  enough 
to  make  one  hundred  volumes,  containing  the  same 
amount  of  matter  as  the  one  now  in  the  hands  of  the 
reader.  The  mere  mechanical  labor  of  writing  such  a 
mass  of  composition  is  in  itself  a  Herculean  task ;  but 
when  we  consider  that  each  page  is  characterized  by  care- 
ful reasoning  upon  points  that  required  much  thought 
and  study,  and  that  the  whole  is  largely  original ;  that  the 
author  was  unaided  by  any  other  books,  save  the  Bible,  in 
the  formation  of  his  arguments  and  opinions ;  and  that  he 
was  a  self-made  man  withal,  we  shall  come  to  the  conclu- 
sion, that,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  the  subject  of  these 
memoirs  was  particularly  blessed  and  aided  by  Divine 
Providence. 

One  secret  of  his  having  accomphshed  so  much,  is  the 
fact  that  he  was  never  idle,  never  contented  to  sit  down 
with  folded  arms  in  his  chair  and  do  nothing ;  a  book  or 
a  pen  was  ever  in  his  hands,  except  when  he  was  taking 
the  ordinary  and  necessary  daily  exercise.  His  life  had 
been  too  stirring  and  active  for  him  ever  to  relapse  into 


190  BIOGRAPHY. 

dormancy,  while  his  faculties  were  left  to  him.  How  well 
we  can  see  him  at  this  moment,  in  the  mind's  eye,  as  he 
used  to  appear  at  the  centre-table,  with  his  book  close  by 
the  lamp,  of  an  evening,  and  his  wife  opposite  to  him, 
listening  to  the  work  which  he  was  reading  aloud  to  her ; 
such  is  almost  the  last  evening  scene  we  can  recall  in  con- 
nection with  him ;  his  clear,  distinct  pronunciation,  proper 
emphasis,  and  fine  voice,  even  in  old  age,  seeming  to 
portray  with  singular  accuracy  the  author's  ideas,  and  to 
add  a  charm  to  the  subject  treated  upon. 

Mr.  Ballou  had  always  deprecated  the  idea  of  capital 
punishment,  believing  the  law  based  on  a  wrong  prin- 
ciple that  would  take  the  hfe  of  a  human  creature,  while 
none  but  God  could  give  it.  During  the  winter  of  1845, 
there  was  more  than  the  usual  interest  evinced  by  the 
public  on  this  subject,  and  numerous  public  meetings 
were  held  relative  to  the  subject,  and  to  endeavor  to  bring 
about  a  reform  in  the  criminal  code,  so  as  to  exclude  the 
death  penalty  altogether.  At  several  of  these  assemblies 
Mr.  Ballou  made  eloquent  addresses  upon  the  subject,  and 
wrote  a  number  of  articles,  which  were  published,  advo- 
cating the  cause,  in  which  he  felt  a  very  great  interest. 
We  subjoin  the  following  poem,  written  by  him  at  this 
time.  It  is  peculiarly  illustrative  of  his  plain,  straight- 
forward style  of  composition. 

THE  CRIMINAL  CODE. 
If  in  the  heart  the  virus  dwell 
Of  murder,  can  we  that  expel 
By  dire  revenge,  or  shall  we  find 
We  miss  the  law  that  governs  mind  ? 


DOMESTIC   AND    PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.     191 

To  quench  a  flame  should  we  engage. 
And  fuel  add,  behold  the  rage  1 
Now  fiercer  still  the  flame  ascends. 
And  fear  with  consternation  blends. 

Man  kills  his  neighbor.   Why  ?   Because 
His  passions  rise  against  the  laws, 
Which  God  hath  written  on  his  soul. 
Unmanned  the  man,  and  made  a  fool. 

To  cure  the  evil,  now  the  law. 
With  tiger  rage  and  open  jaw. 
Cries  out  for  blood,  for  blood  it  cries. 
Seizes  the  culprit,  and  he  dies. 

Two  men  are  dead  in  room  of  one; 
And  now  the  work  is  but  begun  : 
The  virus  spreads,  and  everywhere 
The  deadly  taint  infects  the  air. 

And  murder  now  becomes  more  rife ; 
Lighter  esteemed  is  human  life  ; 
And  he  who  could  not  just  before. 
Now  coolly  looks  on  human  gore 

Revenge  is  wrong  ;  cannot  subdue 
The  vile  affections,  but  renew 
Their  actions  to  a  flame  more  dire. 
To  rage  like  a  consuming  fire. 

When  will  our  legislators  learn. 
That  blessed,  heavenly  truth  discern, — 
When  will  it  well  be  understood. 
That  evil  is  o'ercome  with  good?  " 

Mr.  Ballou  always  had  a  purpose   in  view  when  he 
wrote,  whether  prose  or  poetry,  and  to  this  end,  more  than 


192  BIOGRAPHY. 

to  the  musical  cadence  of  the  verse,  he  exerted  his  ability 
at  composition,  and  always  successfully. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  was  far  from  being 
loquacious,  and  seldom  talked  without  some  important 
and  definite  purpose  in  view.  Yet,  though  he  might  be 
said  to  be  somewhat  reserved  in  speech,  he  was  by  no 
means  secluded  or  abstracted  in  his  habits,  but,  on  the 
contrary,  generally  evinced  the  liveliest  interest  in  the 
conversation  of  those  about  him.  He  was  not  one  to 
break  in  upon  the  conversation  of  others,  and  if  his  opin- 
ion was  given  at  all,  it  was  almost  always  because  it  was 
solicited.  There  is  such  a  thing  as  eloquent  silence ;  and 
"when  we  see  a  mind,  much  enriched  by  study  and  experi- 
ence, offered  as  it  were  uninvited,  at  all  times  and  on  all 
occasions,  we  see  very  plainly  that  there  is  something 
wanting.  Sidney  Smith  said  of  Macaulay,  that  he  only 
■wanted  a  few  brilliant  flashes  of  silence  to  make  him 
perfect ! 

There  are  few  old  people,  or  such  as  have  reached  the 
advanced  age  of  threescore  and  ten,  who  have  not  stored 
up  in  their  memories  a  fund  of  stories  and  personal  anec- 
dotes, many,  perhaps,  of  their  own  individual  experience. 
These  they  are  in  the  habit  of  relating  frequently  as  they 
go  on  their  way  of  life,  and  often  do  so  over  and  over 
again  to  the  same  individuals,  through  mere  forgetfulness. 
This  is  perhaps  one  of  the  earliest  evidences  of  mental 
decay.  Although,  in  the  course  of  his  long  and  chequered 
life,  Mr.  Ballou  had  experienced  many  interesting  inci- 
dents, and  learned  many  curious  anecdotes,  yet  it  was  a 


DOMESTIC   AND    PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.     193 

very  rare  thing  for  him  to  relate  one,  unless  when,  in 
conversation  or  argument,  some  one  peculiarly  applicable 
to  the  subject  in  hand,  suggested  itself  to  his  mind  as 
illustrative  of  some  feeling  or  passion  of  our  natural  dis- 
positions. When  he  did  speak,  those  about  him  always 
listened.  It  was  on  such  occasions,  that,  like  the  sage 
of  "  Rasselas,"  he  spoke,  and  attention  watched  his  hps  ; 
he  reasoned,  and  conviction  closed  his  periods.  This  was 
particularly  the  case  in  his  large  family  circle,  where  his 
opinion,  as  we  have  before  observed,  was  sought  and 
repeated,  on  all  subjects  and  on  all  occasions.  While 
there  never  was  a  parent  more  truly  respected,  there 
never  was  one  more  dearly  beloved.  This  could  not  be 
brought  about  by  an  iron  rule,  and  a  stern,  inflexible 
character.  No.  It  was  accomplished  on  his  part  by  the 
exercise,  in  his  domestic  relations,  of  that  holy  fatherly 
love  which  formed  the  basis  of  his  creed,  and  which  he 
worshipped  in  his  God. 

For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Ballou  was  in  the  habit  of 
carrying  a  snuif-box  in  his  pocket,  and  of  using  the  arti- 
cle as  freely  as  is  generally  the  case  with  those  who  carry 
it  about  them.  We  all  know,  doubtless,  how  very  easy  a 
matter  it  is  to  contract  a  habit,  and  more  particularly  is 
this  the  case  in  advanced  years.  But  if  it  is  diflScult  for 
young  people  to  abandon  any  bad  habit,  when  the  practice 
has  once  been  fairly  contracted,  —  if  it  is  hard  for  them 
to  conquer  a  pleasant  but  baleful  appetite,  with  the  many 
channels  of  amusement,  occupation,  and  substitutes  that 
youth  and  physical  vigor  present,  —  how  much  more 
17 


194  BIOGRAPHY. 

difficult  must  it  be  for  those  who  are  aged  and  infirm,  and 
who  are  thrown  so  much  upon  their  own  resources  for 
amusement,  and  the  means  of  agreeably  passing  their 
leisure  moments.  After  having  made  habitual  use  of 
snuff  for  several  years,  Mr.  Ballou  found  that  it  cloyed 
the  nasal  organs  or  passage,  and  thus  slightly  affected  his 
voice  as  to  distinctness  in  public  speaking.  Perceiving 
this,  he  laid  by  the  article  at  once,  without  a  murmur, 
and  did  not  use  it  at  all  for  three  years,  and  never  again 
habitually.  This  instance  of  resolution  simply  serves  to 
show  the  natural  firmness  of  his  character,  and  the  com- 
plete self-control  which  he  exercised  over  himself 

There  is  still  another  illustration  of  this  spirit,  which 
"we  will  give  here. 

About  a  year  subsequent  to  the  period  of  his  discon- 
tinuing the  use  of  snuff,  a  physician  suggested  to  him  the 
propriety  of  smoking  tobacco  after  each  meal,  and  being 
at  th.it  time  slightly  dyspeptic,  it  was  thought  that  it 
might  aid  and  stimulate  the  digestive  organs.  The  sug- 
gestion was  therefore  adopted,  and  Mr.  Ballou  conse- 
quently soon  acquired  the  habit  of  smoking  regularly  after 
each  meal,  three  times  a  day,  which  practice  he  continued 
for  a  period  of  some  two  years.  This  habit  is  univer- 
sally acknowledged  to  be  one  of  the  most  seductive  in  its 
character,  and  one  which  will  draw  stronger  upon  the 
inclination  and  appetite  than  any  other,  except  perhaps 
the  use  of  ardent  spirits.  One  day  we  observed  that  the 
old  gentleman  did  not  light  his  pipe  as  usual,  after  din- 
ner, and  we  asked  him  if  he  had  forgotten  it.     "No," 


DOMESTIC   AND    PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.     195 

said  he.  "I  have  been  thinking  that  I  am  becoming  a 
''  slave  to  this  habit,  inasmuch  as  I  find  that  I  have  to  do 
"  it  regidarly  every  day  at  certain  periods.  It  is  no 
"  longer  a  medicine,  but  a  pleasant  habit,  and  I  shall 
"  leave  it  off  until  I  find  that  I  require  it  again  for  my 
"  health's  sake."  His  pipe  ^vas  thenceforth  laid  aside, 
as  his  snuff-box  had  been,  without  a  murmur,  or  any 
external  advice  to  influence  him ;  thus  showing  the  strict 
self-denial  he  exercised. 

The  careful  reader  will  follow  out  the  application 
of  this  spirit,  for  it  was  adopted  by  Mr.  Ballou  in  every 
bearing  in  which  it  was  possible  to  affect  himself,  in 
accordance  with  the  dictates  of  his  better  judgment,  not 
only  as  it  related  to  simple  appetite  and  agreeable  habit, 
but  it  was  one  of  his  fixed  and  fundamental  principles  of 
character,  often  evinced.  Probably  no  person  who  pos- 
sessed the  means,  ever  desired  more  to  travel  over  his 
own  and  foreign  countries,  than  did  the  subject  of  this 
biography.  "Well  read  in  ancient  and  modern  history, 
and  familiar  with  geography,  frequent  reference  was 
made  by  him  to  this  desire  to  visit  more  particularly 
Palestine  and  the  East  generally.  But  when  urged  to 
gratify  what  his  children  knew  to  be  so  strong  a  wish, 
and  with  every  facility  offered  him,  and  one  or  more  of 
his  children  to  accompany  him,  his  spirit  of  self-denial 
caused  him  to  say :  —  "  How  much  there  is  to  do  yet, 
"  that  I  may  accomplish  in  my  Master's  vineyard.  To 
"  gratify  this  desire  would  indeed  be  delightful  to  me, 
*'  but  what  benefit  could  it  ever  be  to  my  fellow-men?  " 


196  BIOGRAPHY. 

He  was  assiduously  kind  and  thoughtful  in  relation  to 
animals.  For  many  years,  and  until  latterly,  he  kept  a 
horse  and  vehicle  for  his  own  use,  and  he  -was  always 
particular  to  see  personally  that  the  animal  was  properly 
fed  and  protected.  He  was  accustomed  daily  to  prepare 
from  his  own  plate,  after  dinner,  food  for  a  large  dog  that 
belonged  to  a  member  of  the  family,  as  late  as  his  sev- 
enty-eighth year.  This  kindly  solicitude  and  thought- 
fulness  for  the  dumb  animals  about  him  was  an  evidence 
of  the  natural  goodness  of  his  heart.  Animals  soon  learn 
to  love  those  that  are  kind  to  them,  and  even  the  family 
cat  purred  more  cheerfully  when  resting  by  his  feet,  while 
he  often  gave  it  a  kind  caress. 

Mr.  Ballou  Avas  very  regular  as  to  his  personal  habits, 
particularly  during  the  last  twenty  years  of  his  life.  We 
refer  to  the  taking  of  his  meals,  his  sleep,  exercise,  and 
the  like.  In  late  years  he  was  accustomed  to  retire  early 
at  night,  and  to  rise  very  early  in  the  morning.  In 
former  years,  as  we  have  shown,  he  borrowed  much  of 
the  night  for  his  hours  of  study.  This  was  particularly 
the  case  when  he  was  engaged  in  his  earlier  writings,  and 
when  acting  as  sole  editor  of  the  various  papers  with 
which  he  was  at  diiferent  times  connected.  He  was 
indeed  remarkably  frugal  in  his  diet,  and  to  this  may  be 
attributed,  in  a  large  degree,  the  constant  good  health  he 
enjoyed.  He  ever  preferred  the  most  homely  and  simple 
food,  partaking  of  little  meat,  and  more  freely  of  milk 
and  bread.  Before  the  noon-day  meal  on  the  Sabbath, 
with  his  family  assembled  about  the  board,  he  always 


DOMESTIC  AND   PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.     197 

asked  the  divine  blessing,  in  a  most  impressive  man- 
ner, but  on  no  other  day  was  he  accustomed  to  do  so 
aloud. 

His  hand  upon  the  door,  or  his  footfall  upon  the  sill, 
was  a  sweet  sound  to  us  all ;  for  it  was  with  him  as  Dr. 
Doddridge  said  of  his  venerable  friend  Dr.  Clark,  of  St. 
Albans,  —  "He  brought  joj  into  evejy  house  which  he 
entered,  but  most  of  all  into  his  own  house,  when  he 
returned  to  it." 

We  have  once  already  referred  in  these  pages  to  Mr. 
Ballou's  wife.  Our  feelings  would  naturally  prompt  a 
much  more  elaborate  allusion  to  her  many  virtues,  both 
as  a  mother  and  as  a  wife.  But  as  we  desio;n  this  bioo;- 
raphy  to  be  strictly  a  memoir  of  Mr.  Ballou,  we  only 
refer  in  these  pages  to  such  other  matters  as  are  deemed 
necessary  to  mention,  in  furtherance  of  the  main  object 
of  the  work.  Mr.  Ballou  was  fortunate  in  allying  him- 
self to  a  companion  who  was  in  every  way  worthy  of  him, 
one  whom  he  loved  with  the  most  tender  and  undying 
affection  through  his  whole  life,  and  who  was  to  him  all 
that  a  wife  should  be.  Her  characteristics  were  remark- 
able industry,  simplicity  of  heart,  devotedness  to  him,  and 
untiring  domestic  assiduity.  With  a  naturally  strong 
intellect  and  good  judgment,  she  also  coupled  the  agree- 
able attraction  of  personal  beauty;  but  the  outward  come- 
liness of  her  person  was  far  eclipsed  in  his  eyes  by  more 
enduring  loveliness. 

We  have  already  given,  in  these  pages,  some  remarks 
from  the  pen  of  the  editor  of  the  Trumpet,  who,  in  a 
17=^ 


198  BIOGRAPHY. 

notice  of  Mr.  Ballou's  life,  given  on  the  occasion  of 
a  full-length  portrait  being  completed  of  him,  for  the 
School-street  Society,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six,  says  of 
his  companion:  —  "Sept.  15,  1796,  he  was  married  to 
*'  his  present  wife,  a  woman  of  unsurpassable  goodness, 
"  concerning  whose  praise  it  would  be  almost  impossible 
"  to  speak  too  highly."  Mr.  Whittemore  was,  some 
years  since,  an  inmate  of  the  family  for  a  considerable 
period  of  time,  and  his  words  must  therefore  have  weight, 
as  coming  from  one  who  spoke  advisedly. 

Many  of  us  know  from  personal  experience  how  great 
is  the  influence  upon  our  lives  and  actions  of  her  to  whom 
we  have  been  bound  by  the  holy  tie  of  matrimony. 
Characters  are  often  made  or  marred  by  this  association. 
The  calm  dignity  of  demeanor,  the  evenness  of  temper, 
the  perfect  contentment  and  general  life  of  the  subject  of 
this  biography,  all  manifested  the  true  character  of  his 
home  relations,  influences,  and  associations.  Had  those 
relations  been  different  from  what  they  were,  a  sterner 
hue  would  have  tinged  his  character,  and  a  different 
spirit  doubtless  have  imbued  his  whole  career  in  life ;  at 
least  the  inference  is  but  natural. 

The  following  lines  were  written  by  Mr.  Ballou,  then 
at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years,  in  an  album  which  he 
had  presented  to  his  wife,  and  are  introduced  here  to 
show  the  affectionate  regard  that  existed  between  them  at 
this  advanced  period  of  life.  No  comment  is  necessary, 
save  that  the  lines  were  written  by  a  husband  to  his  wife 
after  ^/^y  years'  companionship. 


DOMESTIC   AND    PERSONAL    CHARACTERISTICS.      199 

TO  MY  TTIFE. 
**Tliou  dearest  of  the  clear  to  me, 
Of  the  beloved  the  best, 
Could'st  thou  but  read  this  heart  and  see 

The  ti-easur^  of  my  breast. 
Assurance  surely  would  be  thine 

That  undiminished  love. 
By  age  grown  better,  like  to  wine. 
Can  never  faithless  prove. 

Not  when  the  virgin  rose  of  youth. 

Blushed  on  thy  snowy  breast ; 
Not  when  we  pledged  ourselves  in  truth. 

And  were  by  Hymen  blessed. 
Could  strong  affection  boast  as  now 

Of  such  resistless  sway. 
When  age  sits  wrinkled  on  my  brow. 

And  mortal  powers  decay." 

The  patient  reader  who  has  followed  us  thus  far  in  this 
desultory  memoir,  must  feel  more  than  a  passing  interest 
in  her  who  was  the  bosom  companion  of  Mr.  Ballou ;  and 
in  this  connection  we  therefore  introduce  the  following 
extract  from  a  communication  to  the  Christian  Freeman, 
dated  Sept.  5,  1851,  which  refers  to  a  visit  to  the  house 
of  Mr.  Ballou,  who  had  been  indisposed  for  a  few  days. 
After  a  brief  introduction,  the  writer  says  :  — 

"  I  wish  to  say  a  word  through  you  respecting  our 
"  venerable  and  beloved  father  in  Israel,  H.  Ballou.  As 
*'  your  report  last  week  spoke  of  the  indisposition*  of  this 
*'  good  brother,  and  knowing  there  would  be  a  great 
^'  desire,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  to  know  how  he  might 
*'  be  at  this  time,  I  did  myself  the  pleasure,  last  Thursday, 


200  BIOGRAPHY. 

''  August  20,  to  call  upon  him  at  his  own  peaceful  home. 
"  Here  I  met  this  aged  saint,  with  his  faithful  companion, 
"  who  have  lived  together  over  half  a  century,  enjoying 
*'  that  undisturbed  domestic  peace  and  felicity,  which  it 
''is  to  be  feared  that  but  few,  comparatively  speaking, 
"  attain  to.  Indeed,  Father  Bailouts  family  may  well  be 
"  called  a  '  model '  family,  for  love  and  attachment,  fidel- 
"  ity  and  trust;  while  the  happiness  of  all  is  that  of  each, 
"  and  the  happiness  of  each  is  that  of  all.  They  have 
"  had  eleven  children,  and  eight  are  living  to  bless  their 
"  declining  years. 

"  Mrs.  Ballou  has  not  been  so  extensively  known  to 
"  the  world  as  some  ;  but  as  a  rcife  and  mother,  none 
"  can  excel  her,  and  her  amiable  and  happy  disposition 
"  has  enabled  her  to  retain  her  former  pleasant  and  aifa- 
"  ble  manner,  so  that  she  is  the  same  interesting  and 
"  agreeable  company  that  she  was  when  I  first  knew  her, 
"  thirty  years  ago.  And  hers  is  the  privilege  to  have 
"  her  children  rise  up  and  call  her  blessed. 

"  And  now,  with  regard  to  the  present  health  of 
''  Father  Ballou.  I  was  pleased  to  find  him  much  more 
"  comfortable  than  I  had  expected.  He  has  been  sufier- 
"  ing  very  much  from  a  severe  cold  which  he  took  about 
"  two  weeks  since,  and  which  has  been  attended  with  a 
"  bad  cough.  He  was  quite  unwell  last  Sabbath,  and 
"  fears  were  entertained  that  he  would  be  obliged  to 
"  relinquish  some  of  his  appointments,  which  his  friends 
"  are  depending  upon  with  such  deep  interest.  But  the 
"  simple  remedies  which  have  been  applied,  finding  such 


DOMESTIC   AND   PERSOFAL   CHARACTERISTICS.      201 

'^  a  perfect  and  unimpaired  constitution  to  work  upon, 
*' have  wrought  a  very  favorable  and  happy  result;  so 
^'  that,  on  Thursday,  he  seemed  very  comfortable,  though 
*'  his  cough  was  not  wholly  removed.  He  seemed  to 
"  have  no  apprehension  but  that  he  should  yet,  for  some 
"  time  to  come,  be  able  '  to  be  about  his  Father's  busi- 
"  ness.'  And  many  will  be  the  fervent  prayers  that  will 
"  ascend  from  the  altar  of  pure  and  devoted  hearts,  that 
'-'■  this  faithful  watchman  on  the  walls  of  our  spiritual 
"  Zion  may  be  yet  spared  to  us,  to  teach  us  the  blessed 
"  truths  of  that  glorious  doctrine  which,  for  sixty  years, 
'^  he  has  most  faithfully  and  perseveringly  preached, 
"  never  shunning  to  declare  the  whole  counsel  of  God. 

*  And  -wlaen  he  dies,  how  many  hearts  will  mourn.'  " 

This  communication  is  from  the  pen  of  the  sympathizing 
lady  of  Rev.  Sylvanus  Cobb.  It  is  sufficient  to  show  the 
opinion  held  by  other  people  of  Mrs.  Ballou,  and  will  also 
evince  the  general  anxiety  and  interest  realized  at  any 
symptoms  of  illness  experienced  by  one  whom  so  many- 
loved  and  revered. 

The  only  game  that  ]Mr.  Ballou  ever  engaged  in  at  all 
was  the  very  simple  one  of  chequers.  This  he  would 
sometimes,  though  very  seldom,  sit  down  to  on  a  long 
winter's  evening,  with  one  of  his  children,  or  perhaps 
some  aged  companion  who  was  fond  of  the  game.  It  is 
the  most  common  thing  for  two  persons,  who  are  good 
players  and  thus  engaged,  to  evince  not  a  httle  feeling  at 
the  result  of  the  game,  either  of  pleasure  at  success,  or 


202  BIOGRAPHY. 

of  chagrin  at  being  defeated.  But  as  it  regards  this  mat- 
ter, we  never  saw  him  evince  the  least  feehng  either  way, 
beyond  one  of  his  pleasant  smiles,  as  often  caused  by 
defeat  as  by  victory.  He  was  what  would  be  called  an 
excellent  player,  but  he  evinced  only  a  passing  interest  in 
the  game. 

At  the  age  of  seventy-eight  Mr.  Ballou  was  still  as 
fluent  and  distinct  a  speaker  as  at  the  age  of  forty.  His 
sermons  were  still  characterized  by  the  same  powerful 
reasoning  on  every  point,  as  well  as  bearing  evidence  of 
constant  study,  showing  also  most  conspicuously  one 
peculiarity  of  his,  that  of  the  practical  as  well  as  philo- 
sophical character  of  his  investigations.  One  might  think 
that,  having  preached  for  a  term  of  nearly  sixty  years  at 
the  date  of  which  we  write,  there  would  from  necessity 
be  a  disagreeable  sameness  and  repetition  of  ideas  in  his 
sermons ;  but  this  was  far  from  being  the  case.  We  have 
heard  old  members  of  his  society,  who  have  listened  to 
his  public  communications  for  more  than  thirty  consecu- 
tive years,  say  that  they  have  never  heard  him  deliver  a 
discourse  without  learning  from  his  lips  some  fresh  and 
beautiful  evidence  of  the  gospel  truths, —  some  new  and 
touching  illustration  of  the  ennobling  sentiments  he  pro- 
fessed. 

**  Age  could  not  vrither  him,  nor  custgm  stale 
His  infinite  variety. '  * 

He  has  himself  often  remarked  that  each  successive  year 
of  study  made  him  happier  than  before,  in  the  fresh  truths 


DOMESTIC   AND    PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.      203 

and  manifestations  of  divine  goodness  developed  in  that 
never- failing  source  of  knowledge, —  that  flowing  river  of 
"wisdom, —  the  Bible. 

In  his  style  of  speaking,  Mr.  Ballou  was  very  peculiar. 
There  was  none  of  the  study  and  pomp  of  declamation  in 
his  delivery, —  no  attempt  at  effect ;  but  he  ever  spoke  to 
the  people,  before  whom  he  raised  his  voice  as  that  which 
he  professed  to  be,  an  humble  servant  of  all  men.  And 
yet  he  was  eloquent,  at  times  brilliantly  so,  and  his  ora- 
tory has  been  cited  by  competent  judges  as  a  rare  exam- 
ple to  follow.  There  are  comparatively  few  men  in  these 
days,  when  the  style  of  ranting,  and  tearing  plain,  straight- 
forward sentiment  to  tatters,  is  so  prevalent,  who  can  so 
absorb  an  audience  as  he  always  did.  When  he  com- 
menced to  speak,  he  would  lay  the  subject  before  his 
hearers  in  a  quiet  but  distinct  tone,  so  as  to  place  it 
within  the  capacity  of  a  child,  calndy  and  with  judgment. 
Then  as  he  proceeded  he  grew  by  degrees  animated,  and 
anon  enthusiastic,  yet  ever  to  the  purpose,  while  the 
expressive  countenances  of  his  hearers  evinced  how  fully 
they  entered  into  the  spirit  of  the  speaker.  And  when 
they  retired  from  the  place  of  meeting,  the  people  were 
accustomed  to  feel  that  they  had  listened  to  profitable 
matter,  and  to  follow  out  the  theme  which  he  had  so  dis- 
tinctly and  legibly  marked  for  them. 

In  this  connection,  and  as  being  illustrative  of  that 
which  we  have  just  remarked,  we  quote  here  from  the 
sermon  of  Rev.  Otis  A.  Skinner,  of  Boston  (having  been 
kindly  permitted  to  do  so),  delivered  before  his  society, 


204  BIOGRAPHY. 

relative  to  tlie  decease  of  the  subject  of  this  biography. 
These  remarks  are  as  follows  :  — 

"  His  sermons  were  all  characterized  by  strength. 
"They  were  not  pretty,  not  declamatory;  but  noble, 
"  grand,  strong.  The  hearer  always  felt  as  though  his 
"  arguments  were  unanswerable,  his  conclusions  above 
"  dispute.  Who  can  gainsay  that?  That  is  unanswera- 
'*  ble !  Such  has  been  the  feeling  of  thousands  at  the 
"  close  of  his  sermons.  I  question  whether  there  was 
"  ever  a  preacher  who  made  so  many  converts  by  his  pul- 
"  pit  labors,  as  Father  Ballou.  Thousands  on  thousands 
"  have  been  convinced  by  him ;  and  his  converts  were 
*'  always  those  most  remarkable  for  ability  to  reason,  and 
*^  for  hearts  of  benevolence.  He  was  ingenious  as  well  as 
*'  strong.  The  moment  he  began  to  open  his  subject,  you 
*'  began  to  be  interested.  You  saw  so  much  ingenuity  in 
"  his  mode  of  reasoning,  in  exposing  error,  in  illustrating 
*'  truth,  that  whatever  you  might  think  of  his  subject,  you 
"  could  not  refrain  from  listening  with  marked  attention. 
"  It  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  him  to  excite  a  smile,  to 
"  move  his  whole  congregation ;  but  usually  that  was 
"  done  by  some  ingenious  argument  that  would  electrify 
"  every  mind  present.  In  his  preaching  he  was  never 
"  light,  never  irreverent,  but  always  grave,  serious, 
*'  devout;  but  he  was  ingenious,  and  his  ingenuity  often 
"  created  a  smile." 

His  discourses  in  the  city  generally  averaged  about 
thirty-five  minutes;  but  in  the  country,  where  people 
came  many  miles  to  hear  him  speak,  frequently  crowding 


DOMESTIC   AND    PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.       205 

the  place  of  worship  to  overflowing,  and  even  standing  at 
the  windows  on  the  outside,  so  thronged  was  the  house 
within,  he  would  sometimes  speak  from  one  to  two  hours. 
Inspired  by  the  undeviating  attention  of  the  mass  of  hon- 
est seekers  after  truth  who  were  before  him,  and  incited 
by  their  eloquent  countenances,  in  which  he  could  read  the 
influence  of  his  words,  it  was  difficult  for  him  to  know 
when  to  stop.  At  such  times  he  was  ever  zealous,  yet 
prudent,  devout  without  ostentation,  vigorous  and  unyield- 
ing in  his  opposition  to  error,  but  still  always  kind  and 
conciliatory.  He  always  complained  that  on  such  occa- 
sions he  could  not  find  one-half  the  time  he  wanted,  while 
speaking  upon  the  holy  theme,  and  that  minutes  never 
flew  more  quickly  than  under  such  circumstances.  The 
power  of  his  eloquence  upon  the  people  at  such  times  can 
be  but  poorly  described ;  it  must  have  been  witnessed  to 
be  realized  and  understood.  Honest  countenances  beamed 
with  delight,  calm  and  peaceful  joy  sat  on  the  wrinkled 
brow  and  face  of  age,  the  eyes  of  the  young  sought  each 
other  in  sympathy,  full  of  a  realizing  sense  of  the  riches 
of  God's  goodness.  Even  children  were  thoughtful,  and 
forgot  the  restraint  that  the  services  had  put  upon  them. 
As  has  been  said  in  an  extract  herein,  his  converts  were 
many.  We  do  not  mean  that  by  one  discourse  he  accom- 
plished this  reformation  in  their  minds ;  but  he  removed 
the  clouds  from  their  mental  vision,  showed  them  the 
loveliness  of  the  gospel  as  it  is  in  Christ,  and  by  hints 
shrewdly  strown  and  arguments  most  potent  to  con- 
vince, with  references  beyond  the  point  of  his  discourse, 
18 


206  BIOGRAPHY. 

he  led  them  to  study  and  judge  for  themselves,  when  he 
had  left  them. 

Rev.  A.  R.  Abbott,  in  a  discourse  before  his  society, 
has  expressed  in  brief,  and  very  truthfully,  some  of 
the  characteristics  of  his  style  of  preaching.  He 
says: — "His  discourses  were  always  simple,  powerful, 
"  clear,  perfectly  intelligible  to  all,  yet  made  so,  appar- 
"  ently,  without  the  least  effort.  You  find  there  no 
''  attempt  to  carry  his  points  by  any  artifice  of  oratory. 
"  Everything  is  plain  and  direct.  Even  the  most  intri- 
''cate  and  perplexing  subjects,  under  his  treatment, 
"  gradually  became  clear.  His  thoughts  were  like  clear 
' '  waters  ;  —  their  perfect  transparency  disguised  their 
''  depth.  When  speaking  upon  any  intricate  topic,  per- 
*'  haps  no  one  ever  listened  to  him  attentively,  under 
''  favorable  circumstances,  without  being  astonished  at  the 
^'  apparent  ease  w^ith  which  he  removed  the  difficulties 
''  from  his  subject,  and  at  the  felicity  with  which  all  his 
"  illustrations  were  chosen.  Often,  when  his  hearers  have 
"  been  wrought  up  to  an  intense  and  painful  interest  by 
"  some  apparently  insuperable  obstacle  or  unanswerable 
"  objection  to  a  point  he  was  laboring  to  establish,  they 
"  have  been  both  surprised  and  dehghted,  by  the  applica- 
"  tion  of  some  well-known  truth  or  familiar  text  of  Scrip- 
*'  ture,  to  see  the  light  break  in  upon  the  dark  point  like 
"  sunlight  through  a  parting  cloud.  And  when  they  saw 
"  how  clear  the  subject  then  appeared,  they  were  vexed 
"  with  themselves  to  think  that  so  obvious  an  explanation 
"  had  never  occurred  to  them.     His  treatment  of  a  sub- 


DOMESTIC   AND   PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.      207 

'' ject  was  like  the  prophet's  healing  the  Syrian  leper;  — 
"  the  method  was  so  simple  that  its  efficacy  was  doubted, 
*'  till  its  success  was  manifest." 

Rev.  A.  A.  Miner  has  kindly  furnished  us  with  the 
following  authentic  fhiecdote,  which  is  very  appropriate  in 
this  connection,  illustrating  as  it  does  the  magic-like 
power  of  Mr.  Ballou's  eloquence,  and  the  delight  with 
which  he  was  listened  to  by  the  masses,  when  his  mission 
carried  him  into  the  country. 

"  He  had  an  appointment  to  preach,"  says  Mr.  Miner, 
*'  some  years  ago,  in  the  town  of  Berlin,  Vt.  There  was 
*'  residing  in  that  town  a  highly-respectable  gentleman  by 
''  the  name  of  James  Perly,  with  whom  I  was  person- 
"  ally  acquainted.  Mr.  Perly  was  exceedingly  anxious 
"  to  hear  Mr.  Ballou  preach;  but,  unfortunately,  he  was 
"  so  lame  with  the  rheumatism  that  he  could  not  get  into 
"  his  carriage.  The  distance  to  the  meeting  by  the  trav- 
"  elled  way  was  some  two  miles ;  but  a  cross-way,  through 
''  a  piece  of  wood,  was  much  shorter.  With  crutches  in 
^'  hand,  he  started  at  an  early  hour,  determined,  if  possi- 
"  ble,  to  reach  the  place  of  meeting  by  the  cross- way. 
''  He  had  not  proceeded  far,  however, —  having  just 
'^  entered  the  wood, —  when,  to  his  great  annoyance,  he 
*'  found  himself  arrested  in  his  progress  by  a  large  tree, 
''  lying  directly  across  his  path.  To  go  round  it  was 
''impracticable,  from  the  obstruction  of  the  underbrush; 
"  to  step  over  it  was  impossible,  on  account  of  his  lame- 
"  ness.  What  could  he  do?  After  studying  the  problem 
"for  a  time,  he  threw  over  his  crutches,  and,  balancing 


208  BIOGRAPHY. 

"  himself  on  the  body  of  the  tree,  managed  to  roll  him- 
"  self  to  the  other  side,  and  to  regain  his  feet.  At  length 
"  he  reached  the  place  of  meeting,  and  listened  with  even 
"  more  than  his  anticipated  delight.  The  speaker  was  all 
"  that  he  had  been  led  to  expect,  in  person,  voice,  and 
"  power  of  reasoning.  He  was  more  than  pleased, —  he 
"  was  charmed  by  his  doctrine.  The  word  of  divine 
"  grace  found  a  most  welcome  reception  in  his  heart,  and 
"  the  very  glories  of  the  upper  world  seemed  to  possess 
"  his  soul. 

"  The  meeting  over,  he  wended  his  way  homeward 
"  again  ;  '  but  whether  in  the  body,  or  out  of  the  body, 
*'  he  could  not  tell.'  As  he  entered  his  house,  every 
"  hand  was  upraised  in  astonishment;  and  with  one  voice 
''  his  family  exclaimed,  '  Why,  Mr.  Perly !  where  are 
"your  crutches?'  Sure  enough,  where  were  they? 
''  The  eloquence  which  had  enraptured  his  soul  had 
"  heated  the  body,  and  made  the  lame  to  leap  for  joy. 
"  He  had  quite  forgotten  his  crutches,  and  returned  home 
"  without  them ! 

"I  give  this  narration,"  says  Mr.  Miner,  "on  the 
"  authority  of  a  sister  of  Mr.  Perly,  herself  not  a  Uni- 
"  versalist.  To  many  persons  such  a  story  may  seem 
"incredible;  but  those  who  are  acquainted  with  the 
"  effects  of  an  intense  pleasurable  excitement,  will  find 
"  little  difficulty  in  believing  it  fully  true.  Few  persons, 
"  sympathizing  with  him,  could  have  heard  Mr.  Ballou, 
"  on  the  occasions  of  his  visits  to  the  country,  without 
"  being  able,  from  their  own  experience;  to  understand 


DOMESTIC   AND    PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.      209 

''  something  of  this  wonderful  influence.  The  writer  of 
''  this  first  hstened  to  him  at  the  New  Hampshire  State 
"  Convention  of  Universalists,  held  at  Walpole,  in  1838 ; 
"  and  rarely,  if  ever,  have  I  seen  a  man  so  deeply  inter- 
"  est  an  audience  as  he  did  on  that  occasion.  Tears  of 
"joy  rolled  down  the  cheeks  of  grey-haired  fathers,  as 
"  the  hopes  of  the  gospel  burned  anew  in  their  hearts. 
"  Such  scenes  are  remembered  with  gratitude  by  thou- 
*'  sands  of  believers  throughout  New  England." 

A  certain  brother  in  the  ministry  said  to  the  writer  of 
these  pages,  —  ''  You  are  preparing  a  biography  of  your 
"father?"  We  replied  in  the  affirmative.  "Well," 
said  he,  "you  have  sat  down  at  home  and  listened  to  his 
"  preaching  before  his  own  society,  and  have  doubtless  a 
"  true  appreciation  of  his  ability ;  but  you  should  have 
"  seen  him  before  a  body  of  ministering  brethren,  at  a 
"  state  or  national  convention.  You  should  have  seen 
"  him  there,  to  write  truly  of  him.  When  it  was  an- 
"  nounced  at  such  assemblies  that  Father  Ballou  would 
"  preach,  we  all  knew  what  to  expect,  and  all  reaped 
"  a  harvest  of  rich  thoughts,  pure  doctrine,  original  argu- 
"  ments,  and  available  material  for  our  own  future  use 
"  in  a  more  limited  sphere.  He  was  not  only  eloquent, 
"  he  was  electrifying  ;  and  while  we  reverenced  him,  we 
"  also  loved  him  like  a  father."  And  this  we  feel  posi- 
tive is  not  merely  the  opinion  of  one  man,  but  of  the 
order  generally. 

"Would  that  I  could  renew  the  sights  I  have  seen," 
says  the  Rev.  Henry  Bacon,  "where  thousands,  in  a 
18* 


210  BIOGRAPHY. 

'  crowded  and  heated  assembly  in  New  Hampshire,  were 
'  held  in  wondering  and  admiring  attention,  as  the  ven- 
'  erated  preacher  set  forth  the  '  exceeding  great  and 
'  precious  promises '  as  exhibitive  of  creating  and  pre- 
'  serving  Love.  The  riches  of  grace  were  poured  upon 
'  the  souls  of  the  people  as  a  refreshing  shower  on  the 
'  earth ;  and  hundreds  of  old  men,  who  had  been  awak- 
'  ened  from  the  nightmare  of  traditional  theology,  or 
'  the  sleep  of  indifference  to  God  and  his  service,  listened, 
'  while  the  tears  coursed  down  their  furrowed  cheeks,  as 
'  he  renewed  in  their  souls  the  raptures  of  the  past.  0 
'  never  can  I  forget  one  sermon  thus  delivered,  when 
'  he  spake  to  us  of  those  who  knew  God's  name  and 
'  would  put  their  trust  under  the  shadow  of  his  wings, 
'  which  wings  were  stretched  over  time  and  eternity ! 
•  Eloquent,  was  he  ?  Yes,  if  rapt  attention,  if  profound 
'  emotion,  if  lasting  enthusiasm  and  tearful  gratitude  be 
'  any  test  of  the  effects  of  eloquence.  With  no  exer- 
'  tion,  that  wondrously  clear  and  silvery  voice  would 
'■  float  over  the  congregation,  and  the  auditor  who  was 
'  the  farthest  removed  from  the  speaker,  caught  the  sim- 
'  pie  words,  conveying  the  grandest  thoughts  most  felic- 
'  itously  illustrated.  There  was  no  pretension  in  his 
'  oratory ;  he  spake  right  on,  warming  with  his  subject, 
'  setting  up  the  noblest  claims  for  adoring  obedience  to 
'  God,  in  all  his  requirements,  exhorting  the  people  to 
'  religious  duty  by  the  mercies  of  God." 

The  effect  of  his  words,  in  public  delivery  especially, 
was  greatly  heightened  by  the  truly  benevolent  expression 


DOMESTIC   AND    PERSONAL   CHABACTERISTICS.       211 

of  his  countenance,  and  by  his  remarkably  venerable 
appearance.  It  has  been  beautifully  said  of  President 
Kirkland,  that  his  face  was  a  benediction ;  and  we  have 
often  heard  similar  comparisons  made  by  those  who  have 
known  and  been  familiar  with  Mr.  Ballou.  He  wore  his 
hair,  white  with  age,  parted  smoothly  in  the  centre  of  the 
forehead,  and  resting  behind  the  ears,  but  not  long  in  the 
neck.  In  a  number  of  lithographs,  engravings  and  min- 
iatures, in  the  possession  of  his  family  and  others,  the 
hair  is  represented  as  short,  and  parted  thus ;  but  latterly 
he  wore  it  long,  as  described  above. 

There  was  expressed  in  his  countenance  a  serenity  of 
disposition  that  was  peculiar  to  him,  a  philanthropy  of 
purpose  which  characterized  all  his  dealings,  and  a  wis- 
dom and  calm  dignity  that  led  even  the  stranger  to  feel 
a  degree  of  respect  for  him  at  once.  The  blamelessness 
of  his  life  and  the  gentleness  of  his  disposition  alone 
form  a  theme  over  which  memory  and  friendship  have 
poured  their  consecration.  As  to  the  matter  of  his  per- 
sonal manner  and  bearing,  while  he  avoided  the  strict 
rules  of  forced  etiquette,  yet  he  was  scrupulously  atten- 
tive in  society  to  the  dictates  of  true  politeness.  His 
form  was  as  straight  and  erect  at  the  age  of  seventy-five 
as  at  twenty. 

As  he  advanced  in  years,  his  style  of  delivery  grew 
perhaps  more  subdued,  but  none  the  less  distinct  and 
impressive.  He  spoke  perhaps  with  less  of  the  fire  of 
zeal,  yet  with  none  the  less  spirit  and  real  eifect.  He 
could  not  treat  of  the  divine  love  and  sufferings  of  Christ, 


212  BIOGRAPHY. 

or  of  the  deep  and  unbounded  grace  of  God,  without  evinc- 
ing the  warmest  feelings,  and  moving  the  audience  to 
tears  by  his  eloquence  upon  these  touching  subjects.  He 
■would  not  unfrequently  be  completely  overcome  himself, 
in  dwelling  upon  this  theme  in  public. 

His  was  a  noble  example  of  a  well-balanced  mind,  with- 
out any  of  that  startling,  comet-like  splendor,  which  has 
usually  been  considered  as  the  very  light  in  which  genius 
lives  and  moves.  His  faculties  were  all  brought  into 
admirable  harmony,  and  thus  operated  with  powerful  and 
never-failing  effect.  There  were  no  contendino;  elements 
in  his  nature;  no  struggles  of  ambition;  no  strife  of 
penuriousness  ;  no  battling  of  passion.  Like  the  beautiful 
harmony  of  the  elements  of  nature,  his  bosom  was  redolent 
of  concord.  And  what  a  worshipper  he  was,  too,  of  the 
forms  of  nature,  and  her  mysteriously  glorious  works 
about  him  !  There  was  no  object  in  nature  so  minute  or 
so  apparently  unimportant  but  had  attractions  for  his 
scrutinizing  eye.  He  was  exceedingly  fond  of  flowers, — 
those  "  illumined  scriptures  of  the  prairie," —  of  the  rural 
scenery,  the  lowing  herds  and  various  tenants  of  the  grove. 
Often  have  we  heard  him  praise  and  dilate  upon  these, 
when,  a  mere  boy,  we  have  travelled  with  him  upon  his 
various  missions  into  the  country.     He  was  one  to 

•*  Find  tongues  in  trees,  books  in  the  runniflg  brooks. 
Sermons  in  stones,  and  good  in  everything.'* 

''  Stay  for  a  moment,"  he  said  to  us,  on  a  certain  occa- 
sion, as  we  were  riding  through  the  country,  and  had  just 


DOMESTIC  AND   PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.      213 

surmounted  a  high  elevation,  commanding  a  beautiful 
view  of  the  outspread  plain  below.  It  was  the  closing  of 
a  clear  autumnal  New  England  day.  ''  What  a  mild  and 
"  holy  religion  is  breathed  by  nature  in  such  a  scene  as 
''  this  !  How  soft  the  influence  that  steals  over  the  senses ! 
"  Though  fresh  from  God's  own  hand,  and  quickened  by 
"  his  presence,  it  teaches  us  no  terror,  no  gloom ;  it  rouses 
"no  fierce  passions  within  the  heart;  it  is  calm,  meek, 
''  forgiving;  and  equally  for  all  breathing  things.  How 
"  hallowed  and  God-like  are  the  bhssful  teachings  of 
"  nature  !" 

He  gazed  so  long,  in  silence,  upon  the  silvery  Con- 
necticut, where  it  threads  its  course  not  far  from  Holyoke 
Mountain,  following  out  the  theme  of  his  thoughts,  that 
■we  marked  well  what  he  had  just  said,  and  remembered  it. 
We  had  just  risen  a  hill  that  overlooked  the  verdant  plains 
of  Hadley,  and  the  scene  is  as  fresh  to  us  now  as  though 
but  an  hour  had  intervened.  Such  appreciations  and 
realizations  were  most  natural  to  him;  and  a  vein  of 
illustration,  drawn  from  these  lovely  exhibitions  of  nature, 
"will  be  found  running  through  the  broad  meadows  of  his 
doctrinal  arguments,  like  a  purling  stream,  refreshing  and 
vivifying  the  verdure  of  divine  truth.  A  reference  to 
nature  in  her  rural  dress  and  belongings,  as  illustrative 
of  the  great  plan  and  purpose  of  God's  goodness  and  im- 
partiality, was  a  favorite  custom  with  him.  He  would 
draw  thence  so  many  incentives  for  thankfulness,  such 
unmistakable  tokens  of  Omnipotent  impartiality  and  uni- 
versal love,  such  powerful  reasons  for  disbeheving  the 


214  BIOGRAPHY. 

unhappy  creed  that  imputed  to  a  Being,  whose  works  are 
redolent  of  loveliness,  attributes  so  repugnant  to  the  heart 
of  his  children,  that  few  could  listen  unmoved, —  few 
refrain  from  outwardly  evincing  the  realizing  sense  he 
produced  in  their  pliant  understandings.  With  a  full 
appreciation  of  these  divine  evidences  of  God's  goodness, 
we  say  it  was  most  natural  for  him  to  pause  thus ;  and, 
with  eyes  drinking  in  of  the  spirit  of  the  scene  before  us, 
exclaim,  as  he  did,  that  it  "  taught  no  terror,  no  gloom; 
"  but  that  its  influence  was  meek,  forgiving,  and  equally 
"  for  all  breathing  things." 

By  strict  frugality  and  industry,  Mr.  Ballou  acquired 
for  himself  a  competency,  besides  dividing  a  handsome 
sum  of  money  between  his  children;  and  in  this  latter 
respect  he  was  somewhat  original  in  his  mode  of  carrying 
out  a  disposition  of  his  property.  He  chose  to  give  to  his 
children  while  he  lived,  preferring  to  witness  the  pecu- 
niary assistance  he  might  render  to  his  family,  and  to 
participate  in  its  enjoyments  in  his  own  life-time.  His 
means  were  acquired  solely  through  patient  labor  and 
frugality.  He  never  enjoyed  a  farthing  in  the  way  of 
legacy,  nor  by  any  fortunate  turn  of  business  or  specula- 
tion. These  matters  he  never  engaged  in  at  all,  and  often 
said  that  he  was  perfectly  satisfied  with  a  return  of  six 
per  cent,  for  his  money  ;  and  that  if  others  felt  the  same, 
much  of  misery  and  misfortune  would  be  spared  them  and 
the  world  at  large.  Some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the 
careful  manner  in  which  he  considered  his  responsibilities 
by  the  following  facts,  namely  :  he  never  placed  his  name 


DOMESTIC   AND   PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.       215 

to  a  note,  or  due  bill,  in  the  whole  period  of  his  life; 
never  borrowed  money;  never  kept  an  account  at  any 
place  of  business,  but  always  paid  for  that  which  he 
bought  at  the  time  of  purchasing,  however  large  or  trifling 
the  amount;  and,  after  his  long  experience  of  life,  he 
endeavored  to  impress  upon  his  children  that  an  adherence 
to  these  rules,  as  far  as  was  practicable,  would  be  produc- 
tive to  them  of  much  good,  and  prevent  a  vast  deal  of 
trouble,  and  needless  anxiety  of  mind,  in  relation  to 
secular  matters. 

By  the  difierent  societies  over  which  Mr.  Ballon  ofl&- 
ciated  as  pastor,  he  lost,  in  all,  a  considerable  amount  of 
money,  through  want  of  good  faith  in  the  payment  of  his 
salary.  This  refers  to  his  associations  before  he  came  to 
Boston.  In  one  instance,  the  sum  of  money  thus  sacri- 
ficed by  him  exceeded  one  thousand  dollars ;  yet  he  was 
never  known  to  institute  a  suit  against  any  individual  or 
society,  but  left  them  to  settle  their  unfaithfulness  with 
their  own  consciences. 

"  Some  write  their  wrongs  in  marble  ;  he,  more  just. 
Stooped  down  serene,  and  wrote  them  in  the  dust." 

His  greatly  improved  prospects,  and  increased  pecuniary 
means,  never  in  the  least  influenced  his  manner  of  living, 
his  habits  or  demeanor.  These  ever  continued  to  be 
characterized  by  the  same  simplicity  and  prudence  that 
marked  his  course  from  earliest  manhood.  At  his  house 
there  was  ever  the  same  open  and  free  hospitality  exer- 
cised ;  and  every  one,  who  knows  anything  about  the  life 


216  BIOGRAPHY. 

of  a  settled  clergyman,  is  aware  that  he  must,  of  neces- 
sity, have  constantly  about  him  a  large  number  of  visitors 
and  partakers  of  his  hospitality.  Besides  which,  as  we 
have  before  signified,  his  hands  were  ever  open  for  the 
needy,  whose  wants  he  delighted  to  supply ;  enjoying  in 
return  that  happiness  that  true  charity  alone  can  impart. 

^' It  always  appeared  to  me  inconsistent,"  says  Mr. 
Ballou,  "  with  the  profession  of  a  minister  of  the  gospel, 
'^  to  live  expensively;  that  is,  far  beyond  what  is  required 
"  for  the  necessities  and  comforts  of  life.  As  the  minister 
"  is  supported  by  the  people  of  his  charge,  the  propriety 
''  of  his  living  beyond  the  income  of  his  parishioners  in 
''  general,  seems  questionable.  Moreover,  it  has  best 
"suited  my  natural  taste  to  avoid  extravagances  and 
''  superfluities." 

T  upper,  the  erudite  and  truthful  author  of  Proverbial 
Philosophy,  has  very  beautifully  said, —  "The  choicest 
pleasures  of  hfe  lie  within  the  ring  of  moderation." 
Believing  thus,  Mr.  Ballou  wrote  contentment  on  every 
dispensation  of  Providence  that  fell  to  his  share. 

The  work  we  have  in  hand  might  be  filled  alone  with 
the  most  sincere  eulogiums  from  ministering  brethren, 
■who  have  referred  in  public  to  the  life  and  character  of 
the  subject  of  this  biography ;  but,  in  the  few  which  we 
have  selected  and  introduced  here,  we  have  been  guided 
by  the  purpose  of  presenting  only  such  as  have  seemed  to 
us  —  knowing  the  facts  from  long  experience  —  to  be  the 
most  truthful  in  the  delineation  of  the  character  and  dis- 
position of  Mr.  Ballou.     Moreover,  the  reader  will,  per- 


DOMESTIC   AND    PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.       217 

haps,  be  too  often  led  to  remember  that  it  is  a  son  who 
writes  this  biography  of  a  father ;  and  when  he  can  bring 
to  bear  the  mind  and  evidence  of  older  and  abler  writers 
than  himself,  as  treating  upon  the  subject  before  us,  the 
work  may  be  thus  strengthened  and  enriched.  In  this 
spirit,  and  under  this  chapter  of  "Domestic  Character- 
istics." the  following  extract  from  the  discourse  delivered 
upon  this  subject  by  Rev.  Henry  Bacon  is  given  :  — 

"  I  am  not  now  to  speak  of  a  stranger,  known  only  by 
"  reputation,  but  of  one  with  whom  I  have  been  familiar 
^'  from  my  earliest  childhood.  The  more  I  attained  power 
'^  to  judge  his  qualities,  the  more  have  I  learned  to  esteem 
''  the  man,  his  character  and  ministry.  He  came  to 
''  Boston,  as  pastor  of  the  Second  Universalist  Society, 
''  when  I  was  scarcely  four  years  old,  and  though  my 
''  parents  were  members  of  the  First  Society,  yet  their 
"  house  was  one  of  his  homes.  The  impression  made  in 
"  boyhood  by  the  stately  form  of  Mr.  Ballou, —  his  meek- 
"  ness,  his  speech  of  singular  clearness,  adaptedness  and 
"  wisdom,  his  singular  temperance  at  the  table,  and  his 
"  kindness  to  childhood, —  was  never  removed;  and  I  use 
"  no  strained  and  forced  language  when  I  say  Hosea  Ballou 
''  was  a  great  man.  I  say  this,  not  looking  from  a  sec- 
"  tarian  point  of  view,  but  as  guided  by  the  principles 
"  that  ought  to  govern  us  in  our  judgment  of  men,  com- 
''  prehensively  regarding  their  qualities,  and  what  they 
*'  have  been  to  their  age. 

"  He  is  a  great  man  who  is  impelled  to  bear  the  new 
''  truth  abroad,  that,  like  its  Great  Source,  he  may  be 
19 


218  BIOGRAPHY. 

''  •  found  of  those  wlio  asked  not  after  him  ;'  to  make  the 
"  hill-side  and  the  grove,  the  river  shore,  the  barn,  the 
"humble  farmer's  room,  or  the  shadow  of  a  great  tree, 
"his  church,  and  there  proclaim  the  gospel  in  its  whole- 
"  ness,  with  a  readiness  that  shows  the  heart  is  full  of  the 
"matter,  and  with  a  willingness  to  answer  any  queries, 
"and  respond  to  any  voice  that  speaks  a  word  against  the 
"  completeness  of  the  redemption  proposed  in  Christ.  By 
"  his  keen  insight  into  human  nature,  his  rare  powers  of 
"  logic,  his  unique  use  of  words,  his  intelligibility  to  the 
"  humblest  capacity  in  treating  of  the  greatest  subjects, 
"and  his  profound  wisdom  in  choosing  means  to  reach 
"  directly  the  ends  desired,  Hosea  Ballou  was  a  great 
"  man.  In  an  instant  he  stripped  away  all  the  show 
"  and  tinsel  of  learned  ignorance,  or  drove  the  dart 
"between  the  joints  of  the  harness  of  barbarian  bigotry, 
"and  laid  low  the  pretender.  By  his  unshaken  and 
"majestic  faith  and  trust;  by  the  steadiness  with  which 
"  he  kept  the  honor  of  God,  in  the  supremacy  and 
"  efficiency  of  the  Scriptures,  ever  before  him  ;  and  by 
"  the  willingness  and  capacity  to  receive  any  new  appli- 
"  cation  of  the  great  principles  of  the  gospel,  he  was  a 
"  great  man.  All  this  was  crowned  and  glorified  by  his 
"personal  character,  by  the  purity  of  his  walk  and  con- 
"  versation,  his  rare  temperance  amid  the  most  solicitous 
"temptations,  and  the  harmony  he  breathed  into  all  his 
"  children  and  the  rule  he  swayed  over  them  ;  he  was  a 
"great  man,  abiding  the  last,  best  test  of  greatness, 
"  '  beinoj  such  an  one  as  Paul  the  acred.'  " 


DOMESTIC   AND   PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.      219 

As  will  be  surmised  by  previous  remarks  in  this  work. 
Mr.  Ballou,  in  the  matter  of  politics,  had  of  course  his 
preferences  of  principles  and  of  men,  and  he  always  voted 
for  them,  besides  keeping  himself  well  read  in  the  most 
important  political  matters  of  the  day,  pro  and  con,  and 
weighing  well  in  his  own  mind  their  bearing  upon  the 
true  principles  of  political  economy  ;  but  here  his  interest 
ceased.  He  took  no  active  part,  even  in  conversation, 
upon  the  subject,  though  at  times  he  would  show  by  his 
remarks  that  the  great  principles  of  either  party  were 
familiar  to  him.  Still  he  always  avoided,  as  a  topic  of 
conversation,  a  subject  which  is  so  often  the  theme  of 
bitter  contention  between  those  who  in  all  other  respects 
are  excellent  friends.  He  never  changed  his  political 
sentiments,  which,  however,  for  very  good  reasons,  were 
scarcely  known,  or,  at  least,  not  intimately  so,  out  of  the 
family  circle. 

His  irreproachable  life  was  in  itself  one  of  the  strongest 
arguments  in  favor  of  his  religion  ;  his  mild  and  dispas- 
sionate manner  on  all  occasions,  his  unblemished  integrity 
and  unimpeachable  character,  through  his  whole  life, 
rendered  him  universally  beloved,  as  well  as  showing  a 
living  example  of  the  divine  principles  he  endeavored  to 
inculcate  in  his  public  teachings.  There  is  an  energy  of 
moral  suasion  in  a  good  man's  life,  passing  the  highest 
efforts  of  the  orator's  genius.  The  visible  but  silent 
beauty  of  holiness  speaks  more  eloquently  of  God  and 
duty  than  do  the  tongues  of  men  and  angels.  A  minis- 
ter's rehgious  faith  should  be  delivered  to  his  people,  not 


220  BIOGRAPHY. 

as  a  matter  of  theoretical  knowledge, —  something  learned 
in  the  study, —  but  as  something  experienced.  "  Noth- 
"  ing,"  says  Bishop  Stillingfleet,  "enlarges  the  gulf  of 
"  atheism  more  than  the  wide  passage  which  lies 
''between  the  faith  and  lives  of  men  pretending  to  teach 
"  Christianity."  Religion  is  not  a  didactic  thing,  that 
words  can  impart  or  even  silence  withhold  :  it  is  spirit- 
ual and  contagious  glory,  a  spontaneous  union  with  the 
holy  spirit  evinced  in  our  daily  lives  and  example. 
Those  who  have  true  religion  make  it  the  garment  worn 
next  the  heart,  but,  alas  !  too  many  make  a  cloak  of  it. 
The  most  learned  divine  or  philosopher  that  the  earth  has 
ever  known,  though  he  spoke  with  an  eloquence  and 
wisdom  near  akin  to  inspiration,  must  yet  be  powerless 
as  to  spiritual  and  godly  influence,  if,  at  the  same  time 
that  he  points  to  wisdom's  way, 

*'  Himself  the  primrose  path  of  dalliance  treads." 

Hooker  has  very  beautifully  remarked,  that  "  the  life  of 
a  pious  clergyman  is  visible  rhetoric ;"  and  some  one  else, 
with  equal  truth,  that  "to  preach  sound  doctrine,  and 
"  lead  a  bad  life,  is  building  up  with  one  hand  and  pulling 
"  down  with  the  other."  Preaching,  to  be  available,  must 
be  consistent. 

Mr.  Ballou  may  be  said  to  have  lived  the  doctrine  he 
professed,  in  the  strictest  sense  of  the  phrase,  and  to  have 
followed  the  glorious  example  set  him  by  his  Divine 
Master.  His  ambition  was  to  be  an  imitator  of  the  meek 
and  lowly  Jesus. 


DOMESTIC  AND   PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.      221 

"  His  preaching  much,  but  more  his  practice  wrought, 
A  living  sermon  of  the  truths  he  taught." 

Touching  this  subject  he  was  wont  to  saj  to  his  hearers :  — 
"  Brethren,  I  want  a  doctrine  that  I  can  prove  by  reduc- 
''ing  it  to  practice;  for  we  are  enjoined  to  'prove  all 
''  things,  and  hold  fast  that  which  is  good.'  People  may 
'•  go  to  the  house  of  devotion,  they  may  hear  learned 
"  ministers  hold  forth  the  doctrine  of  future  rewards  and 
''punishments,  they  may  admire  the  beautiful  oratory  and 
''  flowery  rhetoric  in  which  such  sentiments  are  dressed, 
"  but  they  must  leave  them  all  behind  them  when  they 
''  go  home  to  their  beloved  families.  They  can  never 
''  practise  the  domestic  virtues  and  duties  on  these  prin- 
"ciples  of  doctrine.  The  doctrine  of  Jesus  is  a  practi- 
"  cal  one,  and  we  can  never  do  our  duty  in  the  family 
"circle  unless  we  live  and  conduct  accordino;  to  it." 

This  is  an  example  of  Mr.  Ballou's  style  of  argu- 
ment and  of  illustration.  He  brought  everything  home^ 
where  all  could  understand  the  analogy ;  he  never  went 
abroad  to  seek  for  illustrations,  never  indulged  in  deep 
philosophical  dissertations,  thus  hoodwinking  his  hearers 
and  marring  his  subject.  The  reader  will  at  once  be 
struck  by  the  force  and  truth  of  the  remark,  that,  how- 
ever sincerely  a  person  may  beheve  the  doctrine  of  future 
rewards  and  punishments,  still,  on  leaving  the  house 
where  these  principles  are  taught,  he  must  leave  them 
behind  him.  No  one,  not  even  the  most  zealous  sup- 
porter of  such  a  creed,  ever  attempted  to  practise  it  in  his 
family  circle.  Washington  Allston  has  pithily  said,  "  A 
19* 


222  BIOGRAPHY. 

"  man  cannot  lie  all  orer;  "  so  it  is  a  ffict  that  he  cannot 
be  utterly  wrong  from  top  to  toe  ;  though  his  mind  may 
be  deceived,  and  his  sentiments  indicate  partial  delusion, 
yet  his  hearty  ten  to  one,  will  be  right.  Some  token  of 
his  nicely  constructed  nature  will  turn  itself  into  "  king's 
evidence"  against  his  false  theories.  And  thus  we  find 
men,  sincere  Christians  at  heart,  who  believe  and  promul- 
gate the  doctrine  of  partial  grace,  all  the  while  evincing 
in  their  home  influences  and  general  lives,  the  truth  of 
the  gospel  of  Christ. 

When  Mr.  Ballou  was  last  in  New  York,  some  one  of 
the  brethren  in  that  city  induced  him  to  visit  the  office  of 
the  American  Phrenological  Journal,  where  his  head  was 
examined  after  the  rules  of  the  science,  and  the  following 
characteristics  were  written  out  by  the  examiner,  as  is 
customary  in  such  cases.  Since  the  decease  of  the  sub- 
ject of  these  memoirs,  they  have  been  made  public  through 
the  journal  referred  to.  To  many  this  extract  will 
possess  more  than  ordinary  interest,  and  we  have  there- 
fore given  it  place  here,  under  the  head  of  personal 
characteristics. 

PHRENOLOGICAL   CHARACTER. 

"  His  organization  is  very  favorable  to  long  life,  good 
"  general  health,  and  uniformity  of  mind.  The  vital 
*'  temperament  was  originally  decidedly  strong.  He  has 
*'  an  amply  developed  chest,  lungs  and  digestive  appara- 
^'  tus,  which  have  imparted  health  and  prolonged  life ;  and 
^'the  muscular  system  is  also  fully  represented.     His 


DOMESTIC   AND    PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.       223 

"  mind  is  active,  but  not  so  much  so  as  to  prematurely 
''  exhaust  his  organization  ;  nor  is  he  particularly  excit- 
''  able.  He  has  general  harmony  and  evenness,  rather 
^'  than  eccentricity  or  want  of  balance.  The  tone  of 
''his  organization  is  such  as  to  give  him  energy  and 
''  aim  to  carry  through  his  purposes,  without  friction  or 
"  waste  of  strength.  The  size  of  brain  is  average,  and 
"  the  vital  functions  are  sufficient  to  supply  the  exhaus- 
^'tion  of  mental  action;  hence  he  has  been  able  to  live 
'^  within  his  power  of  sustaining  mental  labor  for  so  long 
^'a  time. 

"  He  is  remarkable,  phrenologically,  for  evenness  of 
'' development;  none  of  the  organs  are  extreme,  and  he 
'Ms  not  inclined  to  those  excesses  which  cause  eccen- 
*'  tricity. 

"  One  of  his  leading  traits  arises  from  Adhesiveness, 
*'  which  gives  attachment  to,  and  interest  in,  friends. 

''  He  still  clings  to  his  youthful  friends,  and  enjoys 
"  their  society.  This  quality  of  mind  enters  largely  into 
"  the  whole  tone  of  his  feelings. 

"He  is  also  kind  to  children,  and  interested  in  them, 
''  and  quite  suceessful  in  entertaining  them,  and  adapting 
''  himself  to  them. 

''He  is  interested  in  woman,  and  capable  of  enjoying 
"  the  marriage  relations  highly,  especially  the  social, 
"  domestic  relations.  He  is  a  strong  lover  of  home,  but 
''  lacks  continuity  of  mind  ;  his  thoughts  and  feelings  are 
''  easily  diverted,  although  he  may  finish  a  subject  that 


224  BIOGRAPHY. 

'  he  commences ;  yet  he  enjoys  variety  in  the  general 
'  exercise  of  his  mind. 

"His  Combativeness  is  of  the  higher  order,  connecting 
'  -with  the  reasoning  and  moral,  rather  than  with  the 
*  animal  nature ;  and  it  gives  him  the  disposition  to  over- 
'  come  the  obstacles  in  his  way,  and  to  argument  rather 
'  than  the  quarrelling  propensity. 

"  He  has  fair  energy,  without  any  surplus,  and  a  full 
'  degree  of  appetite,  without  being  excessive.  He  values 
'  property  for  its  uses,  and  is  not  selfish  in  money  mat- 
'  ters.  He  is  remarkable  for  his  candor,  frankness, 
'  open-heartedness,  truthfulness,  and  disinclination  to 
'  deceive ;  he  speaks  the  real  sentiments  of  his  mind,  as 
'■  far  as  he  speaks  at  all.  He  is  not  suspicious,  but  con- 
'fiding,  and  prefers  to  rely  on  the  honesty  of  mankind 
'  rather  than  to  guard  himself  against  the  dishonesty  of 
'  others.  He  is  not  vain  or  showy  ;  has  merely  ambition 
'  enough  to  stimulate  him  to  do  what  is  his  duty,  without 
'  any  reference  to  publicity ;  but  he  is  decidedly  inde- 
'  pendent  and  self-relying. 

"  He  does  not  lean  on  the  judgment  of  others,  nor  does 
'  he  feel  that  his  character  depends  on  their  opinions  ;  he 
'  merely  states  his  own  opinion,  and  allows  others  to 
'judge  for  themselves. 

"  Firmness  is  another  strong  feature  of  his  mind  :  he 
'  is  uniformly  firm,  each  day  successively  ;  not  stubborn 
'  one  day,  and  over-yielding  the  next,  but  consistently 

steady  and  persevering. 

"  He  is  very  anxious  to  do  as  he  agrees,  and  is  just  as 


DOMESTIC    AND    PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.      225 

^'-  honest  at  one  time  as  another  ;  is  consistent  in  his  pro- 
*'  fessions  and  pretensions,  and  has  always  studied  to 
"harmonize  and  balance  his  character,  rather  than  to 
"  encourage  any  extremes. 

"  He  neither  hopes  nor  fears  to  excess ;  enjoys  what 
*'  good  there  is  to  be  enjoyed,  and  makes  the  best  of  an 
"  unfortunate  occurrence.  His  mind  is  open  to  convic- 
"  tion,  is  ready  to  look  at  new  things,  and  to  be  in- 
"  structed ;  but  is  slow  to  believe,  and  requires  positive 
"evidence  before  he  gives  his  assent.  He  has  a  marked 
"  feeling  of  worship,  deference,  and  respect,  and  regard 
"for  superiority  and  sacred  subjects.  Few  persons  have 
"naturally  more  of  the  disposition  to  worship  than  he. 

"  His  sympathies  are  also  strong.  His  feelings  are 
"tender  towards  objects  of  distress,  either  mental  or 
"  physical.  Imagination  and  sense  of  beauty  and  perfec- 
"  tion  are  decidedly  strong.  He  is  disposed  to  beautify 
"  his  ideas,  and  make  as  much  of  them  as  possible,  espe- 
"  cially  by  way  of  elevating  the  idea,  and  giving  it  a 
"  refined  direction. 

"He  is  not  inclined  to  mimic  and  imitate  others;  his 
"ways  are  peculiarly  his  own. 

"He  is  mirthful,  and  enjoys  fun  as  naturally  as  his 
"  food,  and  it  has  been  difficult  for  him  to  suppress  the 
"  disposition  to  joke.  His  intellectual  faculties  are  well 
"balanced  ;  the  perceptive  faculties  are  all  large.  He  is 
"quick  of  observation,  readily  forms  conclusions  from 
"  whq-t  he  sees,  and  is  very  much  interested  in  all 
"  classes  of  experiments. 


226  BIOGRAPHY. 

"He  is  disposed  to  make  himself  as  much  acquainted 
'  with  this  world  as  possible  before  leaving  it,  and  is 
'  particularly  inclined  to  study  character  and  motives, 
'  and  the  conditions  of  mind.  He  has  a  good  perception 
'of  forms,  outlines,  shapes  and  proportions,  and  has  a 
'  good  memory  of  places,  localities,  and  the  whereabouts 
'  of  things. 

"  He  is  quite  particular  as  to  order  and  arrangement,  and 
'  must  have  everything  done  correctly :  is  precise  in  his 
'  style  of  doing  his  work,  or  in  arranging  his  ideas.  His 
'  memory  by  association  is  good ;  he  is  a  very  punctual 
'  man  in  his  engagements,  and  careful  not  to  consume 
'  the  time  of  another.  He  is  never  in  the  way  of  others, 
^and  does  not  go  where  he  is  not  wanted;  and,  from 
'  diffidence  and  fear  that  he  may  intrude  himself,  he  does 
'  not  go  where  he  is  really  desired.  He  is  copious  in  the 
'  use  of  language,  yet  is  not  wordy ;  his  language  is 
'  direct  and  to  the  point.  He  has  a  clear  mind,  adapted 
'  to  analytical  logic,  and  drives  as  straight  to  a  conclusion 
'  as  the  bee  does  to  a  flower ;  yet  he  reasons  more  by 
'  association  and  analogy  than  from  cause  to  effect. 

' '  He  readily  sees  the  adaptation  of  one  thing  to 
'  another ;  he  seldom  makes  enemies,  or  fails  to  perceive 
'  the  character  and  motives  of  others  ;  is  more  successful 
'  than  most  persons  in  making  friends,  because  he  knows 
'  how  to  adapt  himself  to  others,  and  make  himself  agree- 
'  able.     He  says  and  does  things  in  a  human-nature  way. 

"  The  six  leading  traits  of  his  character  are, — 

'•  1st.  His  affection  and  friendship. 


DOMESTIC  AND   PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.      22T 

« 

"  2d.  Independence  and  self-reliance. 

"  3d.  Honesty,  justice  and  circumspection. 

"4th.  His  devotion  and  respectful  disposition. 

''  5tli.  Sympathy  and  interest  in  the  welfare  of  others, 
"  and  general  philanthropy  of  spirit ;  and, 

"  Lastly,  His  practical  common  sense,  and  system,  and 
''availabihty  of  intellect." 

Mr.  Ballou  was  once  asked,  in  a  most  triumphant 
manner,  by  a  religious  opponent,  in  the  presence  of  a 
large  number  of  individuals,  "  If  your  doctrine  be  true, 
''  sir,  how  is  it  that  it  has  never  been  preached  before? 
"Here  in  the  nineteenth  century  it  would  seem  to  be  a 
"new  discovery."  He  replied,  in  his  usual  calm  and 
effective  manner,  "  Friend,  it  has  been  taught  by  two 
"eloquent  witnesses  at  least,  so  long  as  the  sun  has 
"  shone  and  the  rain  fallen  on  mankind.  These  faithful 
"agents  of  Almighty  love  have  ever  taught  the  doctrine 
"of  impartial  grace  to  all  men;  they  dispense  their 
"  blessings  on  rich  and  poor,  high  and  low,  and  thus  bear 
"  witness  of  the  character  of  Him  who  sends  them." 

We  well  remember  being  present  on  a  certain  occasion 
when  an  intimate  friend  of  Mr.  Ballou's  asked  him, — 
"Do  you  not  think  that  the  life  of  a  clergyman  is  far 
"from  being  a  desirable  one,  when  you  consider  all  the 
"  sorrow  and  grief  that  the  discharge  of  the  duty  attend- 
"  ant  upon  the  profession  necessarily  makes  one  ac- 
"  quainted  with?"  He  replied,  evincing  the  peculiar 
light  that  was  ever  emitted  from  his  eyes  when  he  spoke 


228  BIOGRAPHY. 

earnestly,  ''"Were  I  to  live  my  life  over  again,  knowing 
"  -what  I  LOW  so  well  know,  by  more  than  half  a  century 
"of  experience,  I  would  choose  again  the  same  profes- 
"sion  I  have  followed  so  long.  The  humble  and  faithful 
"  servant  of  Christ  enjoys  an  inward  happiness  that  none 
"  but  his  Master  may  know.  There  is  no  employment 
"more  fitting  for  the  human  heart,  more  ennobling  to 
"  the  nature  of  man,  than  the  study  of  Gods  word,  and 
"  none  from  which  so  great  and  reliable  happiness  may 
"be  derived."  These  evidences  of  his  experience  were 
treasured  by  many  who  were  accustomed  to  seek  his 
society  for  the  benefit  and  pleasure  of  his  conversation. 
The  brethren  throughout  the  order,  and  indeed  every 
one  who  knew  him,  seemed  actuated  towards  him  by  a 
spirit  which  the  universal  title  he  bore  served  to  indicate; 
they  always  called  him  Father  Ballou.  I  do  not  think 
there  was  one  minister  in  the  numerous  order  of  Univer- 
salists  who  did  not  acknowledge  his  preeminence  in 
original  talent,  wonderful  reasoning  faculties,  and  un- 
blemished moral  excellence. 

As  illustrating  this  fact,  we  will  let  one  of  these 
brethren's  remarks  upon  this  subject  speak  for  us  here, 
by  again  quoting  from  the  eulogy  of  Rev.  Otis  A.  Skin- 
ner, delivered  before  his  society  in  this  city. 

"  But  he  was  not  merely  our  leader  to  the  promised 
''land;  he  entered  it  with  us,  and  for  more  than  half  a 
"century  he  continued  with  us,  standing  first  in  our 
"  esteem  and  afiection,  honored  and  beloved,  with  no 
"effort  to  obtain  authority,  and  no  ambition  to  be  a 


DOMESTIC   AND    PERSONAL   CHARACTERISTICS.      229 

"leader.  The  place  which  he  occupied  was  voluntarily 
''assigned  to  him;  it  was  given  in  consequence  of  his 
*'  true  heart,  his  profound  judgment,  his  undeviating 
"attachment  to  principle,  his  entire  freedom  from  art 
"and  management.  Envy  hurled  at  him  its  arrows, 
"but  they  fell  harmless  at  his  feet;  ambition  sought  to 
"rise  above  him,  but  it  sought  in  vain.  There  he  stood 
"  like  a  father  at  the  head  of  his  family,  content  to  exer- 
"  cise  the  sway  which  he  obtained  by  his  superior  judg- 
"metit.  his  commanding  talents,  and  his  devoted  services. 
"  He  never  dictated  ;  he  was  never  impatient  when  op- 
"  posed ;  he  was  never  unkind  to  those  who  differed  from 
"him;  he  comprehended  fully  the  true  idea  of  religious 
"  liberty,  and  in  no  instance  exhibited  a  desire  to  act  the 
"  Pope.  We  doubt  whether,  in  all  the  history  of  the 
"church,  an  instance  can  be  found  in  which  a  minister 
"has  had  so  high  a  rank  in  bis  sect,  and  yet  manifested 
"  a  less  desire  to  bear  rule. 

"  Nothing  is  more  natural  than  for  old  men  to  oppose 
"departures  from  their  measures.  All  sects  have  had 
"those  who  bitterly  denounced  every  step  taken  beyond 
"  what  they  themselves  had  gone ;  but  our  honored  father, 
"  when  he  saw  movements  for  progress,  when  he  saw  new 
"  men  proposing  new  plans  of  operation,  placed  himself  on 
"  a  level  with  the  humblest,  freely  discussed  the  plan,  and 
"yielded  with  cheerfulness  when  convinced.  Not  only 
"  did  he  yield,  but  held  his  mind  open  to  conviction,  and 
"  on  several  points  he  came  in  and  worked  faithfully  for 
"  what  at  first  he  hesitated  to  sanction.  He  was  not  hke 
20 


230  BIOGRAPHY. 

''some  advanced  in  years,  ever  looking  to  the  past,  and 
"  talking  as  though  all  "wisdom  was  concentrated  in  it  ,*  he 
"  believed  that  new  discoveries  were  yet  to  be  made  ;  that 
"progress  was  a  law  of  the  true  church,  and  that  meas- 
''ures  must  be  suited  to  the  times.  Hence  the  most 
"radical,  those  most  desirous  for  reform,  never  felt  that 
"  he  stood  in  the  way :  for  there  was  not  a  reform 
"  which  engaged  the  heart  of  the  philanthropist  that  did 
"not  have  his  sanction.  He  was  a  modern  man,  and 
"lived  in  the  present  time,  as  much,  almost,  as  the 
"youngest  in  our  ministry.  Let  us  go  forward^  was 
"his  motto." 

Such  was  the  universal  meed  of  honor  that  was  ac- 
corded to  him  by  his  brethren  in  the  ministry. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

MR.    BALLOU  AS  A   CONTROVERSIALIST. 

As  passage  after  passage  of  scripture,  which  had 
heretofore  been  misappliedj  was  satisfactorily  explained 
by  his  clear  and  far-seeing  mind,  thousands,  who  had 
before  believed  in  a  partial  faith,  were  brought  to  a 
knowledge  of  Christ  and  the  gospel.  Mysteries  were 
made  plain,  and  dark  ways  were  lighted,  and  the  veil  was 
thus  removed  from  the  eyes  of  the  prejudiced,  or  those 
upon  whom  the  force  of  education  and  early  association 
had  exercised  supreme  sway  in  matters  of  religion. 
"I  have  often  been  led  to  wonder,"  says  Mr.  Ballou, 
"  forcible  as  is  my  own  realizing  sense  of  the  evidence  of 
"impartial  grace,  that  brethren,  brought  up  and  educated 
"in  a  religion  so  diametrically  opposite,  should  yield  so 
"readily,  as  they  often  do,  to  the  arguments  which  we 
"  present  to  them,  and  not  unfrequently  being  won  to 
"  our  belief  and  service  with  the  least  exertion  on  our 
"own  part.  The  reason  of  this  is,  that  there  are  some 
"independent  minds,  that  boldly  think  for  themselves; 


232  BIOGRAPHY. 

''that  acknowledge  no  blind  obedience  to  the  dogmas  o^ 
"the  church,  "when  those  tenets  of  faith  desecrate  the 
"rules  of  reason  and  justice.  The  very  fact  that  it 
"seems  to  be  a  part  of  the  faith  of  partialists  to  give 
"  blind  credence  to  the  declarations  of  the  church,  and  to 
"consider  it  an  actual  sin  to  question  the  assertions  of 
"the  minister  relative  to  the  signification  of  the  Bible, 
"has  done  much  to  keep  the  minds  of  men  in  darkness. 
"  My  own  youthful  condition  was  an  humble  example  of 
"this  fact.  It  was  only  by  thinking  for  myself, —  by 
"receiving  nothing  without  evidence, —  that  I  at  last 
"  came  to  that  knowledge  of  Christ  and  the  gospel  which 
"  has  since  been  to  my  life  such  a  sustaining  and  precious 
"  legacy." 

But  he  was  called  upon  to  encounter  much  oppo- 
sition in  the  advancements  which  he  made,  and  in  latter 
years,  perhaps,  quite  as  often  from  professed  Universal- 
ists  as  from  those  who  openly  opposed  the  doctrine  he 
taught.  There  are  many,  even  at  this  day,  who  seem  to 
avoid  the  subject  of  future  punishment,  and  who  will  not 
speak  out  openly  whether  they  believe  or  disbelieve  it. 
Such  talk  vaguely  of  policy,  and  the  propriety  of  preach- 
ing moral  sermons  instead  of  doctrinal  ones,  which 
argument  is,  in  itself,  a  most  inexcusable  aspersion  upon 
the  gospel.  What  kind  of  a  faith  must  that  be  which 
will  not  bear  to  be  preached  7  This  singular  idea  seems 
to  have  extended,  in  some  degree,  to  the  preachers  them- 
selves, who  have,  in  many  instances,  acquiesced  in  the 
caprice  of  their  hearers  upon  the  subject,  or,  at  least,  that 


MR.    BALLOU   AS  A   CONTROVERSIALIST.  233 

portion  of  them  who  reason  in  this  way  upon  doctrinal 
matters. 

The  true  reason  that  doctrinal  sermons  are  decried  by 
some  of  the  ministers  is,  that  they  afford  no  opportunity 
for  them  to  introduce,  perhaps,  some  style  or  course  of 
reading  that  incHnation  may  have  led  them  to  adopt. 
True  scriptural  teaching  calls  for  sound  argument,  and 
substantial  treatises  upon  the  word,  and  is  a  strong  test 
of  mental  capacity ;  whereas  such  sermons  as  are  too  often 
dehvered  to  the  people  run  upon  miscellaneous  themes, 
that  were  more  properly  left  for  newspaper  or  magazine 
articles,  and  are  of  a  school  of  composition  that  a  shallow 
brain  may  become  a  proficient  in.  We  are  most  forcibly 
reminded  in  this  connection  of  the  words  of  a  certain 
English  bishop,  who  was  travelling  in  this  country  a  few 
years  since,  and  who  made  the  remark,  that  ministers 
here  take  a  text  from  the  Bible  and  preach  about  rail- 
roads, astronomy,  statuary  and  painting ;  but  that  in  his 
country  they  not  only  select  their  texts  from  the  Bible, 
but  they  make  its  doctrines  and  principles  the  subject  of 
their  discourses.  That  wise  old  divine,  Jeremy  Taylor, 
found  it  necessary  in  his  day  to  chide  these  fashionable 
preachers.  ''They  entertain  their  hearers,"  said  he, 
''  with  gaudy  tulips  and  useless  daffodils,  and  not  with 
"  the  bread  of  Hfe  and  medicinal  plants,  growing  on  the 
"  margin  of  the  fountains  of  salvation." 

The  true  doctrine  of  the  Scriptures  is  the  very  foun- 
tain-head of  all  morality,  and  those  who  talk  so  much 
about  preaching  moral  sermons  and  avoiding  doctrinal 
20* 


234  BIOGRAPHY. 

ones,  should  pause  and  consider  avcII  their  own  inconsis- 
tency. Mr.  Ballou's  sermons  were  strictly  doctrinal  ones, 
ay,  emphatically  so ;  but  they  were  none  the  less  moral 
also.  The  principles  are  synonymous,  as  must  be  evident 
to  any  thoughtful  mind.  That  was  excellent  advice 
given  to  a  pious  son  by  Rowland  Hill,  to  preach  nothing 
down  but  the  devil,  and  nothing  up  but  Jesus  Christ. 

The  pulpit  in  these  modern  times  has  been  sadly  per- 
verted by  some  in  all  denominations ;  its  legitimate  and 
holy  purpose  has  been  lost  sight  of  by  many ;  and  any 
predominating  hobby  of  its  occupant  is  rode  rough-shod 
over  the  heads  of  the  congregation,  to  the  almost  entire 
detriment  of  his  usefulness  as  a  religious  teacher.  They 
dress  up  the  tenets  of  faith  in  modern  hvery  to  please 
the  popular  taste,  and,  perhaps,  their  own  vanity,  forget- 
ting that  "religion  helmeted  is  religion  no  more."  The 
minister  seems,  too,  often  thoughtless  of  the  fact,  that 
while  he  preaches.  Almighty  God  is  one  of  his  hear- 
ers ;  the  various  isms  of  the  times  are  made  to  take  the 
place  of  holy  writ,  and  sermons  are  overcharged  with 
abstruse  questions  and  transcendental  ideas ;  or  perhaps 
so  labored  with  rhetorical  flourishes  and  ornaments,  that 
the  hearer,  who  seeks  to  be  led  by  the  straight  and  nar- 
row way,  finds  himself  losing  sight  of  the  grand  purpose 
and  end  of  wisdom,  while  he  tarries  by  the  wayside  to 
admire  the  gaudy-colored  flowers  that  line  the  road. 

"  Eloquence,  to  be  profitable,  must  come  from  the 
"  heart,"  says  Mr.  Ballou  ;  "  none  other  will  prove  efiec- 
"  tual.     I  have  heard  men  speak  in  public,  yea,  in  tho 


MR.    BALLOU  AS  A   CONTROVERSIALIST.  235 

>  . 
"  sacred  pulpit,  with  an  apparent  effect  that  was  evinced 
''in  every  hearer;  but  when  I  turned  away  from  the 
'•'  temple  whither  we  had  come  up  to  worship  the  living 
*'  God,  and  was  led  to  review  the  word  as  spoken  to  that 
"  people,  I  could  only  recall  the  minister's  excellent 
"  oratory,  his  faultless  gesticulation,  his  admirable  jper- 
^^  formance.  Alas  !  what  great  truth  had  he  illustrated, 
"  whom  had  he  glorified  save  himself,  whom  enlightened 
"as  to  the  unbounded  grace  and  goodness  of  God  7  And 
''  then  I  have  prayed  that  Heaven  would  turn  the  noble 
"  endowments  with  which  it  had  blessed  that  brother 
''  to  a  more  worthy  use,  and  fill  his  heart  with  that 
"  meekness  and  self-sacrificing  spirit  that  is  as  a  sweet 
*'  and  acceptable  incense  before  the  throne  of  Jehovah." 

Ministers  who  follow  this  style  of  rhetorical  and  flowery 
preaching  are  not  unfrequently  pronounced  very  elo- 
quent, and  indeed  are  able  to  fix  the  attention,  and  much 
to  interest  an  audience.  But  it  is  unprofitable  eloquence  \ 
like  the  cypress,  which  is  great  and  tall,  yet  bears  no 
fruit.  Pope  has  truthfully  said, —  "Flowers  of  rhetoric 
in  serious  discourses  are  like  the  blue  and  red  flowers  in 
corn,  pleasing  to  the  eye,  but  prejudicial  to  the  harvest ! " 
Keeping  at  the  greatest  distance  from  such  errors,  Mr. 
Ballou  looked  upon  man  as  an  intellectual  and  responsible 
beinor  •  believins:  that  truth  is  the  food  for  that  intellect 
to  thrive  upon,  and  keeping  the  whole  range  of  man's 
natural  duties  before  him,  his  discourses  were  weighty, 
not  in  decorations  for  the  fancy,  but  in  sound  reasoning 
upon  the  holy  text,  and  in  impressive  and  useful  practical 


236  BIOGRAPHY. 

sentiment.    This  was  his  principle  of  theology,  and,  moved 
by  such  feelings,  he  aever  wasted  time 

•'  In  sorting  flowers  to  suit  a  fickle  taste." 

Or,  as  the  editor  of  the  Christian  Freeman  says,  rela- 
tive to  this  trait  of  his  character  :  —  ''It  was  not  so  much 
''  his  concern  to  be  a  man-pleaser,  as  to  be  a  teacher  and 
"  benefactor  of  men.  Hence  he  would  grapple  with  the 
"  errors  of  men,  and  take  them  out  of  the  way;  he  would 
"explain  and  elucidate  the  Scriptures;  he  would  appeal 
''  to  the  reason  and  the  moral  sense  of  the  people ;  and  all 
"  in  the  most  kind  and  magnanimous  spirit.  Thus  he 
''  excited  the  active  opposition  of  the  conservative  and 
"  creed-bound,  elicited  the  earnest  inquiry  of  multitudes 
''  of  the  people,  and  '  filled  the  world  with  his  doctrine.'  " 

"  He  lived  fxithful  to  his  own  convictions  of  truth," 
says  Rev.  W.  A.  Drew,  of  the  Gospel  Banner,  ''never 
"  sacrificed  a  principle  to  the  love  of  popularity,  stood  by 
"  his  integrity  as  resolutely  as  ever  martyr  stood  at  the 
' '  stake,  brought  no  reproach  upon  his  cause,  but  lived  in 
"  the  adornment  of  his  profession,  and  died  consistently 
"  with  his  life." 

We  have  felt  disposed  to  dwell  somewhat  upon  this 
point,  and  to  speak  the  more  feelingly  upon  it,  for  the 
reason  that  this  was  one  of  the  most  frequent  objections 
brought  against  Mr.  Ballou's  style  of  preaching,  by  those 
who  found  fault  at  all ;  and  here  we  are  fortunate  in  being 
able  to  give  his  own  words  and  views  upon  the  subject. 
It  is  true,  the  extract  which  we  give  does  not  contem- 


MR.   BALLOU  AS  A   CONTROVERSIALIST.  237 

plate  the  subject  in  precisely  the  same  phase  as  that 
in  which  we  have  considered  it,  yet  it  has  its  bearing. 
The  objection  was  brought,  of  course,  mainly  by  those 
who,  although  they  believed,  or  partially  believed,  the 
doctrine  of  universal  salvation,  were  yet  too  timid  to 
acknowledge  it.  The  argument  is  brought  home  at  once 
to  our  understanding  and  earnest  conviction  by  the  sim- 
plicity and  force  of  the  illustration. 

"  We  have  often  been  asked  why  we  preach  the  doc- 
''  trine  we  profess,  as  this  doctrine  maintains  that  our 
''  Creator  has  made  the  eternal  state  secure  to  all  men, 
"  and  that  the  happiness  of  that  state  rests  on  the  divine 
^'  favor,  and  not  on  any  influence  which  we  may  exercise 
''  in  this  hfe.  No  doubt  it  seems  unaccountable  to  our 
'•  opposers  that  we  should  argue  so  much,  preach  so 
"  much,  and  write  and  publish  so  much,  when,  after  all, 
"  we  do  not  pretend  that  our  eternal  state  of  happiness 
"  depends  on  these  exertions.  They  do  not  see  why, 
*'  allowing  our  doctrine  true,  it  would  not  be  good  policy 
*'  to  say  nothing  about  it.  Then  we  might  enjoy  the 
"  esteem  of  the  pious  of  all  denominations,  and  be 
*'  regarded  by  the  religious  community,  avoid  all  the 
"  censure  that  is  now  put  upon  us,  and  still  enjoy  our 
''  opinion  in  silence.  Now  that  our  conduct  in  this 
i'  respect  is  not  so  unaccountable  as  our  opposers  seem  to 
"  think,  a  few  remarks  will  serve  to  show. 

"  Suppose  my  acquaintance  with  my  earthly  father  to 
''  be  such  as  to  give  me  the  most  favorable  opinion  of  his 
*'  whole  character,  so  that  I  view  him  as  one  of  the  best 


238  BIOGRAPHY. 

"  husbands,  one  of  the  most  provident  and  kind  fathers, 
' '  and  a  man  of  uprightness  in  all  his  conduct,  against 
"  whom  nothing  in  truth  can  be  spoken.  Suppose,  under 
''  these  circumstances,  being  full  of  love  and  reverence 
"  for  my  father,  I  hear  him  evilly  spoken  of,  and  that  too 
"  by  those  who  profess  to  be  acquainted  with  him, —  yea, 
"by  those  to  whom  people  in  general  look  for  informa- 
"  tion,  and  in  whose  testimony  the  most  of  people  are 
"  disposed  to  place  confidence.  They  go  so  far  in  this 
"  evil  speaking  as  to  represent  the  parent,  whom  I  love, 
"  as  guilty  of  acts  of  injustice  and  cruelty  which  deny 
''  him  the  smallest  share  of  humanity. 

"  What  am  I  to  do  in  this  case  7  I  have  proof  in  my 
' '  hands  to  stop  the  mouths  of  these  evil  reporters,  and  I 
*•  can  do  it  effectually.  To  be  sure,  I  must  exert  myself 
"  in  the  use  of  the  means  w^hich  are  at  my  disposal,  and  I 
''  shall  no  doubt  incur  the  displeasure  of  my  father's  tra- 
"  ducers.  All  this  is,  of  course,  to  be  expected.  But 
'^  here  I  am  told  that  almost  all  the  people  composing  the 
''  community  at  large,  are  really  of  the  opinion  of  those 
"  who  thus  speak  evil  of  my  father ;  and  that,  even  if  I 
"  knew  these  reports  to  be  false,  I  had  better  say  nothing 
''  about  the  matter,  as  it  will  only  bring  me  into  dis- 
"  credit.  Suppose  I  should  be  weak  enough  to  hesitate, 
"  and  even  shrink  from  the  defence  of  my  venerable 
''  father's  character,  should  I  not  feel  justly  ashamed  of 
''  myself  7  What  could  be  more  base  in  me  than  silence 
*'  and  inaction  7 

*'  Look  again,  and  see  how  such  a  case  would  be  aggra- 


MR.    BALLOU   AS   A   CONTROVERSIALIST.  239 

*'  vated  by  circumstances.  My  father  told  me  that  these 
"  traducers  would  speak  evil  of  him,  and  on  this  very 
''  account  put  into  my  possession  every  kind  of  evidence 
*'  which  is  necessary  to  refute  all  these  evil  reports,  and 
"  charged  me,  by  the  dear  relation  in  which  we  stood  to 
"  each  other,  and  the  love  which  we  have  reciprocated,  to 
"  be  faithful  in  the  defence  of  his  character.  Shall  I  be 
"  silent  ?  Shall  I  be  afraid  that  those  who  despise  my 
"  father  will  also  despise  me  ?  Shall  I  purchase  their 
"  smiles  at  the  expense  of  a  character  which  is  dearer  to 
*'  me  than  my  life  7  What  would  it  avail  to  urge  in  this 
"  case,  that  almost  every  one  in  the  community  would  be 
-  against  me?  Is  not  this  circumstance  my  justification? 
"  Surely;  for,  if  people  did  not  believe  the  false  reports 
"  before  mentioned,  there  would  be  no  use  of  disproving 
"  them. 

"  But  the  subject  admits  of  argument  still  more  forci- 
"ble.  Suppose  those  who  speak  evil  of  my  father  are  my 
"  brethren,  and  his  own  beloved  children ;  and  suppose, 
*'  furthermore,  that  all  who  are  deceived  by  this  evil 
"  speaking  are  so  likewise.  We  now  have  the  whole 
"  difficulty  in  our  family.  My  brethren  are  deceived 
*'  concerning  my  father's  character  and  conduct;  he  has 
*'  never  done  those  base  things  which  they  think  he  has. 
"  But  they  really  believe  these  errors,  and  are  tormented 
"  day  and  night  with  fear  that  they  and  their  children  will 
"  fall  under  the  dreadful  scourge  of  our  father's  wrath  ! 
"  Now,  as  I  know  that  all  their  notions  are  false,  and 
"  that  it  is  a  fact  that  the  whole  family  are  abundantly 


240  BIOGRAPHY. 

'  provided  for,  day  by  day,  by  the  kindness  and  love  of 
'  our  father,  can  I,  under  these  circumstances,  be  justi- 
'  fied  in  not  making  even  an  efifort  to  convince  them  of 
'  their  errors  ?  Here  we  see  the  honor  of  our  father,  the 
'  cause  of  truth  and  justice,  all  unite  in  calling  upon  me 
'  to  open  the  evidence  which  our  father  has  put  within 
'  my  hands  for  this  purpose, —  to  give  the  knowledge  of 
'  the  truth  to  those  who  need  it.  With  all  these  matters 
'  forcibly  impressed  upon  my  heart,  which  I  have  given 
'  to  you  in  this  simple  form,  how  can  I  justify  myself  in 
'  doing  otherwise  than  I  do,  humbly  endeavoring  at  all 
'■  times  to  dispel  the  cloud  of  error  that  partialists  have 
'  contrived  to  throw  about  the  received  idea  of  our 
'  Father  in  heaven, —  how  can  I  reconcile  it  to  my  own 
'  heart  to  avoid  doctrine,  and  preach  aught  else  to  the 
'  people  while  they  starve  for  truth  7  " 

Mr.  Ballou  was  declared  to  be  aggressive,  in  his  spirit- 
ual warfare,  as  well  as  defensive ;  and  so  he  was.  Every 
great  reformer  must  be  so ;  every  one  that  has  left  a 
worthy  title  to  that  name  has  done  likewise.  With  a 
great  truth  to  promulgate,  with  new  light  to  diffuse,  with 
a  subtle  enemy  to  encounter,  it  would  not  have  been 
enough  for  him  to  take  a  position  and  hold  it ;  the  war 
must  be  carried  into  the  enemy's  country,  and  the  white 
cross  of  truth  must  be  made  to  surmount  the  loftiest  points 
in  the  castles  of  error,  and  to  float  over  the  banners  of 
infidelity  and  partialism.  And  this  was  his  mode  of  war- 
fare against  bigotry.  He  spared  neither  himself  nor  the 
common  enemy;    his  standard  was  reared  everywhere, 


MR.    BALLOU  AS  A   CONTROVERSIALIST.  241 

even  in  the  very  citadel  of  his  religious  opponents ;  and, 
strong  in  the  gospel  truths  he  advocated  and  trusted  in, 
their  arrows  of  wrath,  steeped  in  the  poison  of  superstition, 
found  no  unguarded  point  in  his  armor  of  gospel  mail,  but 
fell  harmless  to  the  earth,  or  more  frequently  rebounded 
to  the  harm  of  those  who  had  sent  them.  His  warfare 
against  error  was  indeed  aggressive ;  he  seized  upon 
every  weak  point,  and  never  failed  to  thrust  home.  "I 
"  call  God  to  witness,"  he  says,  "I  feel  no  enmity  towards 
"  any  name,  denomination  or  sect,  under  heaven;  but  I 
''have  a  certain  object  in  view  which  comes  in  contact 
"  with  their  errors," 

Again  he  says  :  — 

"  In  all  the  statements  which  I  have  made  of  the  doc- 
''  trinal  ideas  of  others,  I  have  been  careful  to  state  no 
"  more  than  what  I  have  read  in  authors,  or  heard  con- 
"  tended  for  in  preaching  and  conversation ;  and  if  I 
"  have,  in  any  instance,  done  those  ideas  any  injustice,  it 
''  was  not  intended. 

"  The  reason,"  he  continues,  ''why  I  have  not  quoted 
"  any  author,  or  spoken  of  any  denomination,  is,  I  have 
"  not  felt  it  to  be  my  duty  nor  inclination  to  write  against 
"  any  name  or  denomination  in  the  world ;  but  my  object 
"  has  been,  what  I  pray  it  ever  may  be,  to  contend  against 
"  error,  wherever  I  find  it,  and  to  receive  truth  and  sup- 
"  port  it,  let  it  come  from  what  quarter  it  may.  For  the 
"  sake  of  ease,  however,  in  writing,  I  have  reasoned  with 
"  my  opponent^  opposer  or  objector^  meaning  no  one  in 
"  particular,  but  any  one  who  uses  the  arguments  and 
21 


242  BIOGRAPHY. 

''  states  the  objections  which  I  have  endeavored  to 
*'  answer. 

"It  is  very  probable  that  some  may  think  me  too  iron- 
"  ical,  and  in  many  instances  too  severe  on  what  I  call 
"  error.  But  I  find  it  very  difficult  to  expose  error,  so 
"as  to  be  understood  by  all,  without  carrying,  in  many 
"  instances,  my  arguments  in  such  a  form  as  may  not  be 
"  agreeable  to  those  Avho  believe  in  what  I  wish  to  cor- 
"  rect.  I  confess  I  should  have  been  glad  to  have  written, 
"  on  all  my  inquiries,  so  as  not  to  have  displeased  any, 
"  but  to  have  pleased  all,  could  I  have  done  it  and  accom- 
"  plished  my  main  design;  but  this,  I  was  persuaded, 
"  would  be  difficult.  I  have,  therefore,  paid  particular 
"  attention  to  nothing  but  my  main  object,  depending  on 
"  the  goodness  of  my  reader  to  pardon  what  may  be  dis- 
"  agreeable,  in  manner  or  form,  as  inadvertencies."'  But 
all  he  did  and  said  was  in  the  spirit  of  the  true  Christian. 
He  fought  against  error, —  not  against  those  who  walked 
in  the  ways  of  error ;  it  was  a  creed  he  decried,  not  his 
fellow-men ;  —  and  the  battles  he  won  were  far  more  glo- 
rious than  the  blood-stained  fields  that  follow  in  the  train 
of  mortal  warfare. 

Let  us  add  that  the  triumphs  of  truth  are  the  more 
glorious  for  being  bloodless,  deriving  their  brightest 
lustre  from  the  number  of  the  saved,  instead  of  the  slain. 
Personally  he  could  have  no  enemy, —  he  would  not  have 
recognized  any  human  being  as  such ;  but  against  error 
he  waged  a  most  open  and  resolute  warfare,  throughout 
the  entire  course  of  his  life. 


MK.    BALLOU   AS   A    CONTROVERSIALIST.  243 

In  Maj;  1841,  the  society  over  which  Mr.  Ballou  had 
so  long  held  sole  ministration  voted  to  engage  a  col- 
league to  assist  him  in  the  duties  of  pastor,  and  the  Rev. 
T.  C.  Adam  was  engaged  by  them  in  this  capacity.  It 
was  understood  between  Mr.  Ballou  and  his  assistant 
that  each  should  preach  on  certain  Sabbaths;  so  that 
vfhen  Mr.  Ballou  did  not  preach  in  his  own  desk,  he 
might  be  able  to  answer  some  of  the  constant  and  increas- 
ing demands  upon  his  services  from  the  neighboring 
towns.  Although  at  this  time  seventy-three  years  of 
age,  he  preached  every  Sabbath,  frequently  delivering 
three  discourses  during  the  day  and  evening.  Mr.  Adam 
was  not  long  attached  to  the  society ;  but  other  minister- 
ing brethren,  at  the  desire  of  the  society,  assisted  from 
time  to  time  in  the  pulpit.  From  May,  1842,  to  May, 
1844,  Rev.  H.  B.  Soule,  a  pure-minded  and  eloquent 
brother  in  the  ministry,  was  the  junior  pastor,  exercising 
a  most  godly  influence  by  his  teachings,  and  making  in 
this  period  a  host  of  sincere  friends.  In  January,  1846, 
Rev.  E.  H.  Chapin  was  installed  as  junior  pastor,  which 
situation  he  filled  to  universal  satisfaction  and  continued 
usefulness  for  some  two  years  ;  when,  having  resigned  his 
connection  with  the  society,  Rev.  A.  A.  Miner  was  unan- 
imously invited  to  become  the  colleague  of  Mr.  Ballou, 
and  was  duly  installed  May  31,  1848  ;  retaining  his  sit- 
uation until  the  decease  of  the  pastor,  Mr.  Ballou,  whose 
desk  he  now  fills. 

The  connection  of  these  several  brethren  with  Mr. 
Ballou  personally  was  of  the  most  agreeable  character, 


244  BIOGRAPHY. 

friendly,  and  profitable  to  their  mutual  spiritual  interests. 
But,  >vithout  appearing  to  reflect  in  the  least  upon  the 
other  associates  in  this  connection,  concerning  this  latter 
brother's  union  with  the  subject  of  this  biography,  we 
should  be  unfaithful  did  we  not  refer  to  it  in  the  terms  it 
merits,  and  should  fail  to  do  that  which  Mr.  Ballou  himself 
would  have  desired.  For  more  than  four  years  the  most 
uninterrupted  and  delightful  intercourse  continued  be- 
tween them.  No  son  could  have  been  more  considerate, 
kind,  and  assiduous,  no  father  more  affectionate  and 
grateful,  than  in  this  case.  Mr.  Ballou  has  often  declared, 
in  our  hearing  and  in  his  family  circle,  the  earnest  friend- 
ship he  realized, —  nay,  the  affection  which  entirely  filled 
his  heart  towards  one  in  whom  he  found  no  guile,  and 
who  seemed  sent  by  a  kind  Providence  to  smooth  the 
declining  steps  of  his  professional  career.  It  is  hardly 
necessary  to  add  here,  that  this  feeling  was  shared  in  by 
every  member  of  Mr.  Ballou's  extensive  family. 

Rev.  Henry  Bacon  says,  relative  to  the  period  when 
associate  pastors  were  connected  with  him  :  — "  Mr.  Bal- 
"  lou  was  out  of  his  element  in  inactivity,  and  therefore 
"  he  travelled  extensively  in  many  of  the  states,  espec- 
"  ially  the  New  England,  '  preaching  the  glad  tidings  of 
"  the  kingdom  of  God.  Many  feared  that  he  was  thus 
"  perilling  his  fame,  going  forth  after  the  threescore  years 
"and  ten  were  passed;  but  he  wisely  used  the  labors 
"  of  his  years  of  full  strength,  and  seemed  to  renew 
"  his  youth  as  he  entered  into  the  expositions  of  the 
"  Divine  Word.     I  never  heard  more  enthusiastic  enco- 


MR.    BALLOU  AS   A    CONTROVERSIALIST.  245 

"  miums  on  his  preaching  than  within  the  few  last  years; 
"  and  there  was  power  in  the  very  aspect  of  the  old  man's 
'•  form,  as  he  stood  in  the  sacred  desk,  in  an  old  age  that 
''  was  indeed  '  frosty  but  kindly,' — with  a  winning  and 
"  impressive  venerableness,  full  of  the  raptures  of  early 
"  years,  and  casting  a  beautiful  shadow  in  the  way  of 
"  those  who  needed  such  a  guidance  to  the  realms  of 
"  immortality  and  glory." 

Not  unfrequently,  when  some  of  his  old  friends  were 
called  home  to  their  God  in  advance  of  him, —  men  who 
had  perhaps  been  converted  in  their  youth  by  his  teach- 
ings, and  felt  thus  strongly  endeared  to  him  by  the  ties 
of  friendship  and  spiritual  interest, —  they  would  in  their 
last  moments  express  an  earnest  desire  to  have  him  per- 
form the  last  ceremony  over  their  mortal  remains.  When 
this  was  the  case,  notwithstanding  his  advanced  age,  and 
even  at  times  in  the  depth  of  winter,  he  always  complied 
with  their  desires. 

When  he  had  finally  made  up  his  mind  to  the  per- 
formance of  anything,  and  was  satisfied  that  it  was  his 
duty  to  do  it,  nothing  in  the  shape  of  ordinary  impedi- 
ments could  possibly  prevent  him  from  carrying  out  his 
purpose.  A  case  of  this  kind  occurred,  for  instance,  in 
the  winter  of  1845,  during  one  of  the  most  severe  storms 
that  had  been  experienced  in  this  region  for  years.  Mr. 
Ballou,  with  the  snow  of  seventy-six  winters  upon  his 
head,  persevered  in  accomplishing  and  performing  one 
of  these  Christian  deeds  of  kindness  on  the  occasion  of 
the  death  of  Col.  Pierce,  of  Gloucester,  Mass.,  a  man 
21* 


246  BIOGRAPHY. 

widely  known  for  his  goodness  of  heart,  and  as  a  warm 
believer  and  advocate  of  univei-sal  salvation. 

He  seemed  to  have  no  dread  or  fear  of  the  elements  at 
all,  or  of  personal  exposure  to  them  ;  and  let  the  storm 
rage  as  severely  as  it  might,  he  always  kept  his  appoint- 
ment, and  to  the  very  last  was  never  in  the  habit  of 
riding  to  the  place  of  worship,  but  walked,  in  all  weather, 
in  sunshine  or  in  rain.  He  retained  his  physical  facul- 
ties in  the  same  remarkable  degree  of  preservation  as  was 
the  case  with  his  mental  endowments.  His  hearing,  up 
to  the  last  week  of  his  life,  never  perceptibly  declined  ; 
and  in  his  funeral  discourse  Mr.  Miner  says  : — "Though 
"  the  weight  of  more  than  fourscore  years  was  upon  him, 
'  his  vigor  was  scarcely  abated,  and  his  unassisted  sight 
''  enabled  him  to  read  a  Bible  of  fine  print  with  ease." 
His  step  was  firm,  and  his  strength  permitted  him  to 
walk  from  one  extreme  of  the  city  to  another,  even  to  the 
last  time  he  left  his  house.  The  simple  deduction  from 
these  facts  is,  that  he  was  never  guilty  of  excess,  or  of 
the  abuse  of  those  faculties  which  a  kind  Providence  had 
bestowed  upon  him  in  such  perfection. 

It  was  his  practice  to  pray  most  earnestly  with  the  sick, 
to  whose  bedside  he  was  constantly  being  called.  We 
would  that  every  reader  of  these  pages  might  once  have 
seen  him  on  such  a  mission  of  holy  consolation.  His  step 
was  so  quiet  and  noiseless  in  the  sick  room,  his  expres- 
sion of  countenance  so  peaceful  and  hope-inspiring,  his 
words  so  gentle  and  so  redolent  of  heavenly  assurance, 
that  a  spell  of  silence  and  peace  seemed  to  surround  all 


MR.    BALLOU   AS   A    CONTROVERSIALIST.  247 

things.  In  prayer  with  him,  'Hhat  key  which  opes  the 
gates  of  heaven,"  did  the  sick  and  dying  seek  for  con- 
fidence and  consolation  in  their  trying  moments. 

'« In  his  duty  prompt  at  every  call. 


He  watched  and  wept,  he  prayed  and  felt,  for  all." 

We  have  been  present  when,  "beside  the  bed  where 
parting  hfe  was  laid,"  with  his  voice  pitched  to  a  low, 
soft  cadence,  and  the  sick  one's  hand  held  gently  within 
his  own,  he  has  breathed  such  heaven-inspired  language 
of  peace,  held  forth  the  cherished  promises  of  Christ,  and 
shown  the  divine  character  of  our  Heavenly  Father  in 
its  true  light  so  clearly,  yet  so  mildly  and  persuasively, 
that  a  smile  of  contentment  would  light  up  the  pallid  fea- 
tures of  the  sufferer,  giving  token  of  the  same  light  of 
hope  shining  within  his  soul,  and  leaving  an  impression 
on  the  hearts  of  those  who  knelt  with  him  in  that  presence 
never  to  be  effaced.  0  !  it  is  a  glorious  mission  thus  to 
be  the  herald  of  peace  and  good  will  to  the  struggling  soul 
at  its  last  moments, —  thus  to  pass  it  over,  as  it  were,  in 
confidence  to  God  who  gave  it !  . 

Often  have  we  heard  it  said,  "  I  had  rather  hear 
"Father  Ballou  pray  than  any  other  person;  it  seems 
"  almost  impossible  not  to  follow  him  in  every  thought 
"  and  expression."  The  truth  is,  his  whole  heart  was  in 
the  prayer  ;  he  felt  what  he  said ;  he  humbled  himself  in 
sincerity  before  the  throne  of  Jehovah ;  while  the  easy  and 
spontaneous  flow  of  devotional  language  that  fell  from  his 
lips  was  calculated  to  charm  the  ear  of  the  listener,  and 


248  BIOGRAPHY. 

lead  him  to  nearer  communion  with  the  omnipotent  Being 
whom  he  heard  so  sincerely  addressed.  His  prayers  were 
void  of  that  unpleasant  hesitancy  of  speech  which  unfor- 
tunately too  often  characterizes  the  delivery  of  ministers 
in  this  exercise.  His  effort  proved  one  smooth  and  liquid 
flow  of  devotional  thoughts,  from  a  soul  fully  baptized  in 
the  love  of  God.  On  such  occasions,  the  altar  of  his 
heart  seemed  lighted,  and  it  burned  pure  and  bright 
before  the  throne  of  his  Father  in  heaven.  The  immense 
power  of  prayer  can  hardly  be  overrated,  or  its  real  influ- 
ence upon  our  minds  properly  conceived  of,  when  uttered 
in  such  a  manner  as  we  have  described.  It  then  becomes 
the  peace  of  our  struggling  spirit,  the  rest  of  our  care,  the 
calm  of  our  tempest. 

It  was  thus  with  all  his  religious  exercises.  He  never 
failed  to  impress  the  hearer  with  his  own  sincerity,  and  to 
imbue  his  spirit  with  a  devotional  feeling  that  brought 
with  it  refreshing  influence  and  vivifying  hope. 

His  devotedness  to  his  profession,  his  untiring  zeal  in 
the  cause  which  he  advocated,  his  frequent  self-sacrificing 
exertions  in  its  behalf,  were  the  constant  theme  of  his 
brethren  in  the  ministry.  His  never-varying  and  ear- 
nest pursuit  of  his  grand  object, —  that  of  convincing  the 
world  of  God's  impartial  love  to  all  mankind, —  his  per- 
fect reliance  on  an  overruling  Providence,  his  perfect 
faith  in  the  omnipotence  of  truth  and  virtue,  were  all  so 
ardently  realized  and  manifested  in  his  heart  and  dealings 
with  his  fellow-men,  as  to  be  the  remark  of  all  who  knew 
him.     His  own  experience  had  taught  him  to  place  the 


MR.    BALLOU   AS   A    CONTROVERSIALIST.  249 

fullest  reliance  upon  the  Divine  goodness,  for  it  had 
strangely  supported  him  through  adversity,  and  had  car- 
ried him  through  many  dark  trials,  triumphantly  support- 
ing him  amidst  discouragements  which  must  otherwise 
have  inevitably  overwhelmed  a  less  confiding  spirit. 

It  was  a  most  extraordinary  circumstance  for  him  to 
miss  a  single  Sabbath  from  church ;  and  we  do  not  think 
this  occurred  a  score  of  times  up  to  his  seventy-ninth 
year.  The  weather,  however  violent,  either  in  town  or 
country,  as  we  have  before  remarked,  never  prevented 
him  from  attending  to  his  professional  appointments. 
Even  in  physical  illness  he  never  faltered,  and  has  more 
than  once  fainted  in  the  desk  from  bodily  weakness,  caused 
by  attending  to  his  services  at  church  when  physically 
unable  to  do  so.  We  are  forcibly  reminded  here  of  a 
portion  of  a  letter  from  Rev.  H.  B.  Soule,  then  colleague 
with  Mr.  Ballou,  to  Rev.  Stephen  R.  Smith.  Both  of 
these  brethren,  whose  light  burned  so  bright  and  lovely 
at  that  time,  w^re  called  home  by  their  Maker  before  this 
elder  servant  in  their  Master's  vineyard. 

"  You  will  want  to  hear  a  word  of  our  Father  in  Israel. 
"  He  continues  in  good  health  for  a  man  seventy-three 
''  years  old ;  he  preaches  yet  as  strong  as  most  men  at 
"  forty.  Nothing  but  death  will  ever  bring  rest  to  his 
*'  labors.  Most  men,  at  his  age,  would  sit  down,  and  in 
"  dreamy  idleness  or  mere  social  converse  wait  their  call. 
"  Not  so  with  him ;  his  God-given  mission  will  not  be 
"  finished  till  his  lips  are  sealed  forever.  He  will  preach 
"  as  long  as  he  can  stand ;   and  as  long  as  he  does  preach 


250  BIOQRAPnY. 

''  his  preaching  will  be  reverenced.  Preach  as  long  as  he 
"  can  stand  !  yes,  and  longer  !  When  that  aged  frame, 
"  pangless  and  cold,  sleeps  in  the  grave ;  when  that  voice, 
"  eloquent  so  long  with  '  good  tidings  of  great  joy,'  shall 
"  be  hushed  on  earth,  then  will  Father  Ballou  preach  as 
''  he  never  did  before.  His  life,  with  its  sainted  virtues, 
"  its  noble  toil,  its  Christian  zeal,  will  be  a  sermon, —  how 
"  thrilhng,  how  divine,  they  will  know  who  read  it.  May 
"it  be  long  ere  it  is  written !  God  bless  him  in  his  old 
"  days,  and  sanctify  his  example  to  the  young  servant 
"  who  stands  beside  him  !  " 

The  young  brother  who  thus  wrote  spoke  most  truly. 
He  studied  well  the  character  of  him  with  whom  he  was 
associated;  he  realized  the  present  effect  of  his  words, 
and  the  future  influence  they  must  inevitably  exercise. 
"His  life,"  says  the  junior  pastor,  "when  that  voice 
"shall  be  hushed  upon  earth,  will  preach  as  he  never  did 
"  before."  That  time  has  now  come ;  we  now  reahze  this 
period  referred  to.  "Though  dead,  he  yet  speaketh." 
Full  of  honors  and  of  years,  he  has  lain  him  down  to 
sleep  his  last  sleep;  but  he  will  still  preach  to  us  as 
eloquently  as  ever,  perhaps  with  increased  influence, 
through  the  memory  of  his  pure  and  godly  life,  and  the 
power  of  the  works  he  has  left  behind.  "  By  the  world 
"  he  will  be  remembered  as  the  apostle  of  Universalism," 
says  T.  A.  Goddard,  the  superintendent  of  his  Sabbath- 
school,  in  his  address  to  the  school,  "the  advocate  of 
"the  paternal  character  of  God;  and  he  will  speak  to 
"  men  as  of  old,  when  he  charged  them  to  cast  away  their 


MR.    BALLOU   AS  A   CONTROVERSIALIST.  251 

"  creeds  and  superstitions,  and  to  search  the  Scriptures  for 
"  themselves.  To  his  people  he  will  speak  whenever  they 
"  enter  this  temple,  reminding  them  of  the  many  years 
*'  he  dwelt  with  them  in  peace,  and  of  the  glorious  truths 
''that  have  dropped  from  his  lips.  To  us  he  will  speak, 
"  with  his  benignant  eye,  as  often  as  we  enter  this  room, 
"  telling  us,  in  the  language  of  the  apostle,  '  Beloved,  let 
"  us  love  one  another ;  for  love  is  of  God.'  This  theme  — 
"  the  love  of  God  —  was,  indeed,  one  which  he  delighted 
*'  to  dwell  upon ;  and  with  what  unction  would  he  treat 
"it  in  all  its  length  and  breadth!"  Yea,  though  his 
personal  work  be  ended,  yet  the  influence  of  his  life-long 
labors  will  be  perpetuated  for  centuries. 

Mr.  Ballou  was  particularly  remarkable  for  his  punctu- 
ality, and  always  took  precaution  that  no  matter,  of  what- 
ever description,  should  be  delayed  by  him.  This  was  a 
point  upon  which  he  was  always  exceedingly  tenacious. 
Often  have  we  heard  him  say  that  punctuality  is  not 
merely  a  duty  that  we  owe  to  others,  but  absolutely  a 
duty  to  ourselves,  and  one  of  the  most  important  princi- 
ples that  can  be  adopted  and  observed  in  every  and  all 
relations  of  life ;  and  upon  this  belief  he  ever  acted.  If 
he  had  an  engagement  to  proceed  to  any  of  the  neighbor- 
ing towns  to  preach,  or  was  about  to  commence  a  journey 
of  any  considerable  length,  which  was  very  often  the  case, 
he  always  allowed  a  reasonable  period  of  time  to  spare  at 
the  place  of  starting,  and  took  good  precaution  that  he 
should  never  find  it  necessary  to  hurry  in  any  emergency. 
In  short,  he  made  it  a  strict  and  abiding  principle  to  be 


252  BIOGRAPHY. 

'punctual  in  every  case,  important  or  comparatively 
otherwise.  This  was  one  reason  why  he  was  enabled  to 
accomplish  so  much, —  the  proper  division  of  time,  and 
adherence  to  the  appointed  period  for  each  specific  pur- 
pose, giving  him  great  command  of  his  resources.  Thus 
it  has  been  said  of  him  that  he  seemed  completely  inde- 
pendent of  time  and  place,  and  so  it  would  almost  appear. 
Burning  with  a  constant  desire  to  be  about  his  Master's 
business,  he  could  not  remain  idle  for  a  moment  when  he 
realized  that  he  might  be  profitably  employed  to  the  end 
of  promulgating  and  enforcing  the  religion  he  taught. 
As  we  have  before  said,  personal  convenience  or  comfort 
were  not  taken  into  consideration  at  all;  he  was  ever 
ready,  ever  willing,  to  respond  promptly  at  each  call ;  but 
so  numerous  were  these,  that  he  was  obliged  to  adopt  the 
principle  of  supplying  the  society  first  who  came  to  him 
first,  and  those  persons  who  read  our  denominational  papers 
will  have  noticed  that  his  appointments  were  frequently 
announced,  up  to  the  very  last,  for  weeks  in  advance. 
The  good  that  he  undoubtedly  accomplished  in  these 
itinerant  missions  must  have  been  incalculable.  Realiz- 
ing that  he  could  occupy  but  an  hour  or  so  in  a  place,  he 
usually  took  up  some  prominent  point  of  theology,  and,  by 
his  masterly  handling  of  the  subject,  cleared  its  question- 
able character  entirely  from  the  hearer's  mind ;  and  thus 
having  gained  one  step  before  them  which  would  impart  a 
degree  of  confidence  in  his  faith  and  general  mode  of 
explanation,  he  would  then  go  over  a  most  extensive  field 
of  faith,  pointing  out  features  here  and  there,  and  the 


MR.  BALLOU   AS   A    CONTROVERSIALIST.  253 

props  that  should  be  raised  to  sustain  this  portion  and 
that,  and  leaving  the  minds  of  the  people,  at  last,  strongly 
impressed  with  a  system  of  theology  that  they  might 
themselves  understandingly  pursue  and  reason  upon, 
taking  for  a  groundwork  or  platform  that  which  he  had 
clearly  elucidated  to  their  minds  as  the  true  fundamental 
basis  of  the  gospel  of  Christ. 

In  reference  to  his  frequent  travels  about  the  country, 
we  would  that  it  were  possible  to  obtain  more  of  the 
numerous  incidents,  so  illustrative  and  characteristic,  that 
used  so  constantly  to  occur  to  him.  One  anecdote  strikes 
us  at  this  moment,  which  is  not  without  its  bearing,  as  it 
relates  to  his  power  for  repartee,  or  rather,  we  should 
say,  his  ability  to  turn  the  most  familiar  subjects  into 
argumentative  use  and  advantage. 

When  it  is  remembered  that  Mr.  Ballou's  belief  was 
that  salvation  is  the  process  of  making  people  happy,  the 
point  of  the  following  anecdote  will  be  appreciated.  It 
happened,  on  one  of  his  short  excursions  in  the  neighbor- 
ing country,  that  he  stopped  at  a  public  house,  where  he 
had  occasion  to  pass  through  a  room  which  a  woman  was 
about  to  engage  in  cleaning.  She  had  heard  that  he  was 
at  the  house,  and,  being  of  a  different  faith,  she  deter- 
mined to  ask  him,  if  an  opportunity  oflfered,  just  one 
single  question,  which,  in  her  simplicity,  she  conceived  to 
be  perfectly  unanswerable  by  those  Avho  believed  in  the 
doctrine  Mr.  Ballou  advocated.  As  he  came  in,  she 
began: — "Your  name  is  Ballou,  I  believe,  sir?" — "Yes, 
"  madam,"  said  he,  "my  name  is  Ballou." — "I'm  told 
22 


254  BIOGRAPHY. 

"  that  you  preach,"  said  the  woman,  "that  all  mankind 
"  are  going  to  be  saved." —  "  Yes,"  replied  he,  "  I  do." 
— "Well,  Mr.  Ballou,"  continued  she,  "  do  you  believe 
''  they  "will  be  saved  without  first  becoming  perfectly 
"holy?  Do  you  believe  they  will  be  ssiwed  just  as  thty 
"are?"  He  looked  at  her  mop.  "What  are  you 
"  going  to  do  with  that  mop  ?  "  he  asked.  — "  Why,  sir," 
replied  she,  "  I  'm  going  to  mop  up  the  floor." — "  Are 
"you  going  to  mop  up  the  floor,"  he  asked,  "before  it 
"  becomes  perfectly  clean  ?  Are  you  going  to  mop  it  up 
^^just  as  it  is  ?  " 

Could  a  more  happily  conceived  answer  have  been 
given  to  the  woman,  if  hours  had  been  consumed  in  its 
preparation  7  We  opine  not ;  and  herein  the  reader  will 
observe  the  instantaneous  and  lightning-like  operation  of 
Mr.  Ballou's  mind. 

His  conversational  powers  were  most  remarkable. — 
remarkable  because  ever  tempered  with  such  a  fund  of 
logical  clear-sightedness,  such  profound  acumen,  and  such 
convincing  argument  upon  the  topic  under  discussion; 
then  we  have  to  add  to  this  the  effect  of  his  speech,  so 
distinct  and  impressive.  Hazlitt's  remark  of  Coleridge, 
that  he  was  an  "excellent  talker, —  very, —  if  you  let 
him  start  from  no  premises  and  come  to  no  conclusion," 
would  in  no  way  apply  to  the  subject  of  these  memoirs  ; 
for,  at  the  outset  of  Mr.  Ballou's  conversation,  you  would 
at  once  divine  the  end  he  aimed  at,  and  would  only  be 
surprised  at  the  velocity  with  which  you  found  him  lead- 
ing you  to  the  desired  result,  always  established  in  his  own 


MR.  BALLOU  AS  A   CONTROVERSIALIST.  255 

mind,  though  he  addressed  you  with  the  calm  and  collected 
expression  that  was  a  second  nature  to  him.  No  moun- 
tain of  error  seemed  too  lofty  for  him  to  surmount,  with 
giant  strides  and  unbroken  strength ;  and  you  would  find 
his  white  flag  of  truth  waving  from  its  summit,  and  your- 
self breathing  freer  and  deeper  at  the  consummation  of 
the  rough  ascent,  before  you  had  fairly  found  time  to 
realize  the  power  of  reason  necessary  to  surmount  the 
rugged  obstacles  of  the  path.  And  once  elevated  above 
the  murky  haze  of  error,  his  descent  with  you  again  to 
the  lowlands  and  plains  of  every-day  life  Avas  as  easy  and 
graceful  as  his  ascent  had  been  majestic  and  lofty. 

Often,  in  private  conversation  with  those  who  had  come 
to  his  own  fireside  to  meet  him,  he  was  most  efiicacious. 
In  the  grandeur  of  his  conception,  the  glory  of  his  theme, 
and  the  unequalled  sincerity  with  which  he  advocated  it, 
his  soul  would  seem  to  expand,  his  eyes  to  kindle  in  the 
expression  to  a  surprising  brilliancy,  his  lips  and  counte- 
nance seemed  like  those  of  one  inspired,  while  you  would 
have  been  almost  awed  at  the  man,  had  not  his  theme  so 
much  more  power  over  your  heart.  But,  having  uttered 
such  language  as  few  could  frame,  having  challenged 
your  admiration  and  wonder  by  the  adaptedness  of  every 
word,  and  the  conviction  that  he  forced  upon  you,  he 
relapsed  again  into  the  quiet,  peaceable,  domestic  soul 
that  he  was,  and  you  would  seem  to  look  around  instinct- 
ively to  behold  the  spirit  which  had  so  entranced  your 
faculties  but  a  moment  before,  it  seeming  impossible  that 
it  was  he  who  sat  so  quietly  beside  you. 


256  BIOGRAPHY. 

Mr.  Ballou's  reading  was  confined  almost  entirely  to 
sacred  history,  and,  comparatively  speaking,  he  consulted 
little  else,  though  he  was  well  versed  on  all  general  sub- 
jects, and  he  carefully  perused  at  least  one  daily  news- 
paper regularly.  We  remember  to  have  asked  him,  at  a 
late  period  of  his  life,  why  he  did  not  vary  his  reading 
somewhat  from  the  great  theme  of  divinity,  arguing  that 
it  might  afford  some  relief  to  his  mind,  and  be  of  both 
mental  and  physical  benefit  to  him,  by  somewhat  relaxing 
the  constant  exercise  of  his  brain.  He  atiswered  us  in 
the  words  of  Milton, — "  The  end  of  learning  is  to  know 
"  God,  and  out  of  that  knowledge  to  love  him,  and  to 
''  venerate  him ;"  adding,  that  this  was  the  great  actuating 
purpose  of  his  labors  and  study ;  in  short,  the  being,  end 
and  aim,  of  his  existence.  "  That  which  seems  to  you  to 
"be  labor,"  said  he,  "is  to  me  as  refreshing  recreation. 
"  No  course  of  reading  could  aJBford  me  the  pleasure  and 
"  delight  that  I  find  in  that  which  has  engaged  me,  heart 
"and  soul,  for  more  than  half  a  century." 

His  whole  library  did  not  exceed  three  hundred 
volumes,  but  these  were  of  a  character  that  particularly 
indicated  the  nature  of  his  mind  and  pursuits,  being  well 
worn  by  constant  use,  and  relating  to  such  subjects  as 
might  be  supposed  to  occupy  and  interest  him.  His 
thorough  acquaintance  with  the  Scriptures  was  almost 
unprecedented,  and  he  was  never  at  fault  as  to  any  pas- 
sage or  quotation  from  its  wealth  of  knowledge.  It  was 
the  book  he  had  studied  more  than  all  others  put  together ; 
nor  was  there  any  passage,  in  the  whole  of  the  sacred 


MR.   BALLOU  AS  A   CONTROVERSIALIST.  257 

record,  which  had  been  made  the  tkeme  of  controversy  or 
misunderstanding,  that  he  had  not  also  made  the  subject 
of  careful  study  and  exposition. 

Every  unoccupied  moment  was  given  to  mental  exer- 
cise upon  the  subject  nearest  to  his  heart.  We  have  seen 
him  thus  occupied  often  in  the  street,  when  all  the  tur- 
moil and  bustle  of  life  passed  him  by  unheeded.  On  this 
peculiarity,  Mr.  Bacon  says,  in  the  eulogy  before  referred 
to  :  — "  He  wasted  no  power  in  frivolity,  but  as  he  walked 
*'the  streets  he  seemed  to  be  unaffected  by  the  crowd 
*'  about  him,  meditating  some  new  utterance  of  the  truth. 
*'  I  remember  being  amused,  and  yet  impressed,  by  be- 
*'  holding  him,  in  my  youth,  walking  along  with  his  head 
*'bent,  and  his  lips  moving  as  in  speech,  heeding  not  the 
''  passers-by  or  the  shows  in  the  street,  appearing  as 
"  quiet  amid  the  noise  and  bustle  as  in  the  solitude  of  his 
"  own  study.  Yet  should  any  one  greet  him  by  name, 
"  he  w^ould  instantly  pause,  fix  his  sharp,  keen  eye  upon 
"the  face  before  him,  and,  as  he  recognized  the  friend, 
*'  one  of  the  sweetest  smiles  that  ever  illumined  a  human 
*'  face  would  spread  over  his  countenance,  deepening  till 
''  that  countenance  was  youthful  indeed ;  then,  with  ready 
"utterance  of  kind  feeling  and  warm  interest  in  the 
"happiness  of  others,  he  made  his  affectionate  regards 

"known." 

22* 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

SPIRIT   OF   HIS   DOCTRINE. 

Mr.  Ballou  ever  strove  to  make  the  word  and  the 
principles  which  he  taught  appear  attractive,  by  repre- 
senting them  in  their  appropriate  dress,  the  liverj  of  joy 
and  peace,  and  from  the  principles  of  fatherly  love  and 
kindness  he  gathered  the  strongest  motives  for  humility, 
gratitude  and  obedience.  He  would  tell  you  that  God 
has  written  upon  the  fragrant  flowers  of  the  field,  on  the 
breezes  that  rock  them,  and  the  refreshing  sun  that  nur- 
tures them,  indelible  tokens  of  his  fatherly  affection,  and 
would  refer  you  to  the  blooming  clover,  and  the  falling 
rain,  as  blessings  not  to  be  misconstrued,  in  God's  own 
hand- writing,  a  "way-side  sacrament,"  free  to  all.  He 
would  never  tire  of  depicting  the  Almighty  through  the 
spirit  of  the  most  beautiful  emblems  in  nature,  and  ever 
deducing  from  them  the  most  amiable  and  glorious  traits 
of  Deity. 

The  employment  he  made  of  the  familiar  images  of 
natui'e  will  remind  the  reader  of  what  we  have  already 


SPIRIT   OF   HIS   DOCTRINE.  259 

said  touching  the  influences  of  his"  birth-place.  The  blue 
skies,  the  green  pastures,  the  gushing  rivulets,  the  ever- 
lasting hills  that  rear  their  giant  summits  to  the  glorious 
efiulgence  of  the  noon-tide  sun,  or  the  cold  kiss  of  the 
midnight  moon,  spoke  to  his  heart  a  language  that  his 
intellect  faithfully  interpreted.  The  constant  contempla- 
tion of  beautiful  natural  scenery  almost  invariably  in- 
spires devotional  feeling.  In  the  wonderful  solitudes  of 
nature  the  sneer  of  the  infidel  is  hushed  upon  his  lips, 
and  the  worldly  man  forgets  the  passions,  the  jealousies, 
the  intrigues,  the  heart-burnings  and  frivolities,  of  his 
daily  artificial  life.  But  the  heart  of  the  true,  thought- 
ful, right-minded  man  does  something  more  than  mirror 
the  images  presented  to  his  eye.     It  is  not  like 


-a  sleeping  lake, 


That  takes  the  hue  of  cloud  and  sky, 
And  only  feels  its  surface  break 

As  birds  of  passage  wander  by, 
That  dip  their  wing  and  upward  soar. 
Leaving  it  quiet  as  before." 

Before  the  mind's  eye  of  such  a  man,  the  beauties  of 
nature  do  not  glide  away  like  the  figures  of  a  painted 
panorama,  serving  only  to  amuse,  charming  the  eye  for  a 
moment  with  grace  of  form  and  beauty  of  manner,  and 
then  passing  away  like  an  idle  dream,  the  "baseless  fab- 
ric of  a  vision."  In  the  true  man,  the  child  of  God,  the 
inner,  the  spiritual  sense  is  awakened  in  sympathy  with 
the  material  organs  of  vision.     For  him  each  lineament 


260  BIOGRAPHY. 

of  nature  is  a  revelation,  each  feature  a  symbol.  The 
flowers  are  to  him,  as  some  one  has  beautifully  remarked, 
the  "  alphabet  of  angels." 

We  have  labored  somewhat  in  these  pages,  even  at  the 
risk  of  repetition,  to  inculcate  the  idea  that  Mr.  Ballou 
■was  one  of  these  students  of  nature ;  and  this  was  the 
case  in  a  most  eminent  degree :  the  teachings  that  he 
received  at  her  feet  in  youth  he  garnered  up  in  his  heart, 
to  be  repeated,  to  be  illustrated,  and  illumined  with  new 
light  from  the  brightness  of  his  intellect,  to  be  poured 
forth  again  to  thousands  who  required  so  eloquent  an 
interpreter.  He  had  learned  a  lesson  he  could  never  for- 
get, from  the  beautiful  creations  of  God,  of  his  fatherly 
affection.  The  fierce  midnight  storm,  with  its  thunder- 
peals and  lightning-flashes,  had  no  terror  for  him;  he 
knew  better  than  to  interpret  it  as  a  manifestation  of  the 
"wrath  and  vengeful  fury  of  the  Deity ;  for  he  knew  that  it 
was  to  be  followed  by  a  purer  and  healthier  atmosphere, 
by  the  glowing  bow  of  promise,  and  by  brighter  smiles 
from  the  unshadowed  sun. 

In  none  of  the  varied  phenomena  of  nature  did  he 
behold  the  God  of  wrath,  the  God  of  vengeance,  the  piti- 
less Deity  of  the  dark  theology,  whose  horrors  he  was 
destined  to  dissipate  and  overcome.  Far  from  this.  He 
deduced  from  every  phase  of  nature  the  great  truth  of  the 
all-prevailing  and  inexhaustible  love  of  the  Almighty  for 
the  children  of  his  creation.  Thus,  by  the  simple  symbols 
and  tokens  he  had  discovered,  strewn  like  flowers  along 
the  pathway  of  life,  he  sought  to  awaken  the  torpid  sense 


SPIRIT   OF  HIS  DOCTRINE.  261 

of  those  "who,  having  eyes,  saw  not,  and  having  ears 
heard  not,"  the  wonders  of  the  glad  tidings  the  angel- 
messengers  of  the  Deity  were  commissioned  to  communi- 
cate to  man. 

Mr.  Ballou's  examples  and  illustrations  of  God's  un- 
bounded grace  and  goodness,  as  drawn  from  visible 
nature,  were  very  frequent.  God's  word  first,  and  then 
God's  works,  were  his  strength  and  shield.  Let  the  fol- 
lowing show  his  mode  of  reasoning  in  this  particular.  He 
says :  —  "If  our  Creator  has  so  bountifully  provided  for 
"  our  existence  here,  which  is  but  momentary,  and  for 
•'  our  temporal  wants,  which  will  all  soon  be  forgotten, 
"  what  has  he  not  done  for  the  security  of  our  immortal 
"  state,  and  for  our  enjoyment  in  the  everlasting  world? 
"  Pause,  and  behold  what  boundless  scenes  of  riches  and 
"  glory  are  opening  to  our  view  in  Jesus,  by  whom  life 
"  and  immortality  are  brought  to  light !  We  have  seen 
*'  the  brightness  of  the  morning  sun,  have  known  the  ren- 
''  ovating  majesty  of  his  noontide  rays,  have  seen  a  fair 
*'  creation  blest  with  his  universal  light  and  heat !  But 
*'  this  is  only  a  symbol  of  the  Sun  of  Righteousness;  his 
"  brightness  is  above  that  of  the  morning  sun,  his  heat  is 
"  more  renovating  than  the  rays  of  the  noon.  In  him 
''  our  Heavenly  Father  hath  given  unto  us  eternal  life. 
*'  As  the  life  of  the  natural  is  in  the  sun,  so  the  life  of 
*'  the  moral  creation  is  in  Jesus,  the  light  of  the  world, 
"  the  life  of  man.  If  the  earth  be  full  of  the  goodness 
"  of  the  Lord,  have  we  not  in  this  a  fair  specimen  of  the 
"rest  of  his  vast  creation?     Have  we  any  reason  to  be- 


262  BIOGRAPHY. 

"  lieve  that  the  earth  is  more  favored  with  the  divine 
'*  goodness  than  any  other  part  or  parts  of  creation  ?  No, 
''  surely  we  have  not.  All  those  worlds  which  sparkle 
"  in  the  wide  expanse  of  heaven  are  full  of  the  goodness 
''  of  the  Lord  ;  and  if  time  be  all  full  of  divine  goodness, 
"so  is  eternity ;  and  if  God  be  universally  good  tempo- 
"  rally  speaking,  so  is  he  in  relation  to  spiritual  things. 
''  What  infinite  reason  have  we  to  exercise  our  hearts  in 
"  gratitude  to  God,  and  our  affections  in  love  to  him,  who 
"  giveth  us  all  things  richly  to  enjoy  !  With  what  pro- 
"  priety  may  we  say,  '  Let  everything  that  hath  breath 
"  praise  the  Lord  ! '  " 

Observe  how  vastly  difierent  was  the  effect  produced 
by  the  tenets  of  faith  preached  by  many  around  him  ! 
How  far  from  lovable  was  the  portraiture  drawn  of  God 
and  Heaven  by  those  who  held  forth  the  creed  of  the  old 
school ! 

How  many  preachers  of  this  school  have  won  their 
ephemeral  reputations  solely  by  awakening  the  terrors  of 
their  auditors,  and  have  been  esteemed  great  in  propor- 
tion to  their  ability  to  produce  fainting,  convulsions,  tears 
and  groans,  among  women  and  children  !  The  perverted 
vision  of  such  men  rests  on  no  image  of  nature,  except  such 
as  they  can  distort  to  symbolize  some  imaginary  dreadful 
attribute  in  the  God  of  their  theology.  He  is  clothed  by 
them  in  storms  and  clouds,  as  the  heathen  Jove  was 
depicted  grasping  in  his  hand  a  sheaf  of  thunderbolts. 
From  their  portraiture  every  gleam  of  light  is  excluded, 
—  it  is  a  murky  and  repulsive  mass  of  shadows.     The 


SPIRIT   OF   HIS   DOCTRINE.  263 

gentle  and  fragrant  flowers,  the  sweet  perfumes  and  rain- 
bow colors  with  which  the  face  of  nature  is  so  prodigally 
decked,  claim  no  word  or  thought  of  theirs ;  they  cannot 
employ  these  images  in  their  illustrations,  they  cannot 
reconcile  them  with  their  gloomy  theories,  —  their  very 
existence  is  unaccountable  to  their  perverse  vision. 

"  That  gloomy,  heart-dejecting  something,"  says  Mr. 
Ballou,  "  which  has  been  maintained  in  our  world  at  an 
"  incalculable  expense  of  treasure,  of  comfort,  peace  and 
''joy, —  at  the  expense,  also,  of  the  tender  charities  of  the 
"heart,  and  the  benevolent  sentiments  of  the  soul, — 
"  though  called  religion,  is  all  counterfeit.  It  has  drawn 
"  a  sable  curtain  over  the  mildly  radiant  countenance  of  our 
"  Father  in  heaven,  and  in  room  of  leading  the  mind  to 
'•  contemplate  the  Divine  Being  with  pleasure  and  de- 
''  light,  it  has  attached  a  horror  to  the  sacred  name, 
"  which  gives  a  stupefying  chill  to  the  heart,  repels  the 
"  mind,  and  forces  it  to  seek  relief  in  the  contemplation 
' '  of  visible  and  sensible  objects  ;  and  after  becoming  the 
''  author  of  this  horror  and  disgust  in  the  soul,  it  artfully 
''takes  the  advantage  of  the  deception,  to  inculcate  a 
"  belief  that  the  reason  of  these  feelings  is  the  natural 
*'  depra\aty  of  the  human  heart !  Such  are  the  views 
"  which  youth  are  led  to  entertain  of  religion,  that  they 
"  contemplate  it  as  something  calculated  to  deprive  them 
"  of  their  present  comforts,  and  only  useful  as  it  relates 
"  to  a  state  of  existence  hereafter,  where,  as  a  recompense 
"  for  sacrifices  which  they  make  of  happiness  in  this 
"  world  J  they  are  to  receive  extensive  and  lasting  bless- 


264  BIOGRAPHY. 

"  ings.  With  such  reflections,  it  is  natural  to  delay  the 
^'  concerns  of  religion  as  long  as  possible,  with  an  inten- 
"  tion  to  submit  to  its  unpleasant  requirements  in  season 
"  to  win  the  prize.  This  is  evidently  the  reason  why 
''  youth  are  so  little  inclined  to  employ  their  thoughts  on 
"  divine  things,  and  to  prefer  amusements  and  trifling 
''  vanities  to  the  acquisition  of  Christian  knowledge. 

"  But  true  religion  presents  the  Father  of  our  spirits 
"  as  the  most  lovely  character  of  which  the  mind  can  pos- 
"  sibly  conceive.  It  directs  to  the  contemplation  of  that 
''  almighty  power  which  controls  a  universe,  and  to  view 
"  ail  its  elements  in  harmony  with  the  unchangeable  love 
"  of  God  to  his  creatures.  In  youth,  while  the  heart 
"  is  tender,  and  sensibility  quick  and  lively,  what  an 
"  exquisite  delight  the  mind  is  capable  of  enjoying,  by 
"  penetrating  through  visible  objects  and  the  beauty  of 
''  temporal  things,  to  the  contemplation  of  that  wisdom, 
''  power  and  goodness,  which  are  manif^t  through  the 
"  medium  of  these  outward  forms!  If  the  fragrance  of 
"  the  rose  can  so  gratefully  delight  the  sense,  how  much 
''  greater  is  the  pleasure  to  the  rational  mind  which  flows 
"  from  the  consideration  of  that  wisdom  and  goodness 
"  which  gave  this  power  to  the  rose,  and  this  capacity  to 
''sense!  From  this  single  item  let  the  mind  glance 
"  through  all  creation,  and  freely  indulge  the  reflection 
"  that  the  universe  is  as  full  of  the  divine  goodness  as 
"  the  rose  or  the  lily  of  the  valley.  Freed  from  super- 
"  stition,  what  heart  would  not  be  charmed  with  the  char- 
*'  acter  which  the  Saviour  gives  of  our  Heavenly  Father  7 


SPIRIT   OF   HIS   DOCTRINE.  265 

"  '  Behold  the  fowls  of  the  air;  for  thej  sow  not,  neither 
''  do  the  J  reap,  nor  gather  into  barns,  yet  jour  Heavenly 
*'  Father  feedeth  them.  Are  ye  not  much  better  than 
"  they  7  Consider  the  lilies  of  the  field,  how  they  grow  ; 
"  they  toil  not,  neither  do  they  spin ;  and  yet  I  say  unto 
"  you  that  even  Solomon,  in  all  his  glory,  was  not  arrayed 
"  like  one  of  these.'  " 

These  mute,  but  beautiful  and  eloquent  testimonials  of 
their  Maker's  love  and  gentleness,  would  rebuke  the  dog- 
matism of  the  schools  :  and  hence  they  naturally  avoid  to 
mention  the  graceful,  refined  and  touching  features  of  na- 
ture. They  prefer  rather  to  revel  in  their  own  dark  and 
unwarrantable  conceptions  of  a  future  state,  to  gloat  over 
the  prospective  agony  of  their  brethren,  to  conjure  up  hor- 
rid pictures  of  future  suffering  and  woe,  and  madly  to  pro- 
nounce all  as  being  necessary  to  the  full  glory  of  God,  and 
the  exemplification  of  his  almighty  power.  What  wonder, 
then,  that  thousands,  turning  with  loathing  and  shudder- 
ing from  the  image  of  a  deity  clothed  with  all  the  repug- 
nant attributes  of  the  most  debased  humanity,  plunge 
into  hopeless  unbelief,  refusing  all  credence  in  such  a 
being,  and  in  any  future  state  whatever  1  Was  it  not  a 
Herculean  task  to  combat  the  immemorial  and  prescrip- 
tive dogmas  of  powerful  and  learned  preachers,  armed 
with  all  the  rhetorical  imagery  of  the  schools  for  working 
terror  and  despair  in  the  hearts  of  their  listeners  7 

Again  Mr.  Ballou  says :  — 

"  The  preacher  of  the  old  school  exhorts  his  hearers, 
*'  above  all  things,  to  the  practice  of  the  most  rigid  self- 
23 


266  BIOGRAPHY. 

''  denial;  and  assures  them  that  God  will  be  highly  pleased 
"  ■\yith  their  abstaining  from  those  pleasures  which  he  has 
"  placed  within  their  reach.  The  most  innocent  amuse- 
*'  ments,  the  most  harmless  recreations,  he  declaims 
''  against  with  the  utmost  vehemence,  as  damning  sins. 
"  He  considers  religion  essentially  to  consist  in  a  perpet- 
"  ual  effort  to  suppress  and  eradicate  that  propensity  to 
^'  acquire  temporal  happiness  which  the  God  of  nature 
*'  has  made  to  be  the  spring  of  our  actions.  But  on  no 
"  subject  does  he  delight  to  dwell  so  much  as  on  the 
*'  future  punishment  of  the  wicked  and  impenitent.  He 
"  dresses  up  the  Father  of  the  universe  in  the  awful 
"  robes  of  eternal  wrath  and  unbounded  indignation,  filled 
"  with  incessant  anger  at  the  crimes  of  the  wicked,  exert- 
''  ing  infinite  wisdom  in  devising  the  modes  and  augment- 
"  ing  the  severity  of  their  punishment. 

"The  eternal  din  of  future  punishment  soon  loses  all 
*'  effect  in  frightening  the  people,  and  has  no  influence  but 
' '  to  impress  a  melancholy  gloom  on  their  minds.  Mankind 
"  are  to  be  animated  to  strive  to  enter  the  gates  of  heaven 
"  by  the  love  of  God  and  of  goodness.  He  who  attempts 
*'  it  through  fear  of  damnation  exhibits  no  evidence  of 
"  holiness  of  heart.  As  well  may  we  call  a  man  honest 
*'  who,  having  an  inclination  to  steal,  refrains  for  fear  of 
*'the  whip,  as  we  may  a  man  religious,  who,  having 
*'  vicious  inclinations,  restrains  them,  and  conforms  to  the 
''  exteriors  of  religion,  for  the  purpose  of  escaping  the 
"  flames  of  hell.  It  is  matter  of  much  regret  that  the 
*'  amiable  religion  of  Christianity  should  be  so  disfigured 


SPIRIT  OF  HIS  DOCTRINE.  26? 

"  and  misrepresented  as  to  deprive  many  people  of  the 
"  happiness  of  enjoying  it.  Jesus  Christ  has  in  the 
"  clearest  manner  inculcated  those  duties  which  are  pro- 
"  ductive  of  the  highest  moral  felicity,-  and  consistent 
"  with  all  the  innocent  enjoyments  to  which  we  are 
''  impelled  by  the  dictates  of  nature.  Religion,  when 
' '  fairly  considered  in  its  genuine  simplicity  and  uncor- 
"  rupted  state,  is  the  source  of  endless  rapture  and 
^'  dehght.  But,  when  corrupted  with  denials,  mortifica- 
"  tions,  and  a  punctilious  observance  of  external  rites,  it 
"  assumes  a  form  disgusting  to  men  of  taste,  and  a  relish 
"  for  social  happiness,  and  is  productive  of  the  most 
"  destructive  consequences.  It  drives  one  part  of  man- 
*'  kind  into  the  practice  of  superstition,  hypocrisy  and 
"  bigotry ;  and,  by  exciting  a  distaste  and  aversion  in  the 
"  minds  of  the  other  part,  it  excludes  them  from  the 
*'  rational  pleasure  arising  from  the  practice  of  genuine 
'^  religion.  The  road  to  heaven  is  pleasant  and  delightful, 
"  if  mankind  will  go  the  right  way;  and  certainly  God 
"  will  bid  the  saint  as  sincere  a  welcome  to  the  realms  of 
''  immortal  felicity  who  has  in  the  journey  of  life  tasted 
*'  the  temporal  delights  of  innocence,  as  he  will  him  who 
"  has  abstained  from  them.  Why,  then,  should  we  leave 
"  the  path  that  is  strewed  with  flowers  and  roses,  for  the 
"  purpose  of  going  in  another  through  a  wilderness  beset 
*'  with  thorns  and  briars,  when  both  parts  will  terminate 
*'  in  the  same  happy  country  7" 

People  listen  to  the  dogmas  of  the  schools,  and  are 
filled  with  awful  forebodings ;  terror  is  the  predominating 


268  BIOGRAPHY. 

principle  in  their  bosoms,  and  sorrow  takes  possession  of 
their  hearts,  speaking  out  from  their  ftiithful  counte- 
nances in  sadness.  How  far  is  the  true  influence  of  the 
gospel  from  inducing  such  results  as  this  !  Mr.  Ballou 
believed,  with  Fenelon,  that  "  true  piety  hath  in  it  nothing 
"  weak,  nothing  sad,  nothing  constrained.  It  enlarges 
"  the  heart;  it  is  simple,  free,  and  attractive."  If  this 
were  not  the  true  nature  of  the  gospel,  how  could  there 
be  "  peace  and  joy  in  believing  "  ? 

He  held  that  the  true  way  to  cleanse  the  hardened  and 
rebellious  heart  is  to  inundate  it  with  a  deluge  of  love, 
the  only  weapon  of  Omnipotence.  Reason  with  the  sin- 
ner, he  will  meet  you  with  subtle  argument;  threaten 
him,  and  he  will  meet  you  blow  for  blow  ;  against  future 
interest  he  will  adroitly  balance  present  pleasure.  The 
human  heart  rises  against  severity  or  oppression,  while 
it  is  soothed  by  gentleness,  as  the  waves  of  the  ocean  rise 
in  proportion  to  the  violence  of  the  winds,  and  sink  with 
the  breeze,  until  it  becomes  a  gentle  zephyr,  into  mildness 
and  serenity.  Love,  the  warm  sunshine  of  our  existence, 
subdues  the  sinner  at  once ;  there  is  not  one  in  a  thousand 
whose  heart  is  so  hardened  that  its  genial  warmth  will 
not  melt  it.  True  it  is  that  force  can  subdue  numbers, 
cunning  conquers  force,  intellect  can  master  cunning, 
but  love  conquers  all.  There  is  a  vast  difference  between 
a  wounded  heart  and  a  contrite  spirit.  You  may  break 
ice  by  force  into  a  thousand  pieces, —  it  is  ice  still ;  but 
expose  it  to  the  warm  sun,  and  behold !  how  quickly  it 
will  melt ! 


SPIRIT  OP  HIS  DOCTRINE.  269 

We  have  enlarged  somewhat  upon  this  doctrine  of 
divine  love,  and  trust  that  our  readers  will  bear  with  us 
in  our  desultory  career,  since  this  principle  is  the  funda- 
mental basis  of  Universalism, — the  starting-point  and  the 
goal,  the  Alpha  and  the  Omega,  of  Mr.  Ballou's  spiritual 
experience  and  teaching.  By  it  he  reconciled  the 
impulses  of  his  heart  and  the  promptings  of  his  intellect. 
The  principle  of  God's  perfect,  unchanging  and  eternal 
love  of  man,  was  the  great  discovery  of  his  earliest  man- 
hood, the  object  of  his  self-imposed  mission,  the  inspira- 
tion and  solace  of  his  labors,  the  spirit  and  joy  of  his 
existence.  His  adamantine  belief  in  this  great  idea,  daily 
strengthening  by  the  study  of  God's  works  and  word,  was 
his  shield  and  spear.  It  touched  his  lips  with  living  fire, 
as  he  stood  in  the  pulpit,  or  beneath  the  blue  canopy  of 
heaven,  where  he  often  preached ;  in  the  solitude  of  his 
study,  in  the  busy  haunts  of  men,  it  fed  the  flickering 
lamp  of  life  when  it  waned  with  severe  exertion,  and  it 
shone  like  the  brightest  star  of  heaven  on  his  dying  bed. 
It  was  no  solitary  joy ;  the  treasure  he  had  found  he  jour- 
neyed through  the  land  to  share  with  others.  From  his 
lips  the  glad  tidings  rang  through  every  nook  and  corner; 
and  he  lived,  as  we  have  seen,  long  enough  to  hear  the 
accents  caught  up  by  the  willing  and  faithful  watchmen 
of  the  gospel,  and  the  cry  of  "  All 's  well !  "  echo  from 
port  to  port,  from  battlement  to  battlement,  on  the  cas- 
tles of  Zion,  through  the  vast  circumference  of  his 
native  land.  He  saw  his  denominational  congregation 
swollen  from  a  little  band  of  eager  listeners  to  an  audi- 
23* 


270  BIOGRAPHY. 

tory  numbering  hundreds  of  thousands.  He  saw  the 
shadows  of  unbehef  flying  from  the  face  of  truth,  as  the 
mist  of  morning  disappears  before  the  rising  sun.  And 
he  felt  joyful,  but  not  proud  or  elated,  in  the  conscious- 
ness that  his  sacred  mission  had  been  crowned  with  such 
complete  success,  and  that  multitudes  recognized  the 
truth  which  he  first  enunciated,  that  the  law  of  God  was 
the  law  of  love. 

But  let  us  give  place  here  to  his  own  words,  beauti- 
fully expressed,  and  illustrating  his  behef,  and  the  spirit 
of  his  doctrine,  as  appears  in  a  poem  he  wrote  upon  this 
theme,  some  years  since.     It  is  entitled 

GOD  IS  LOVE. 

"  When  lovely  Spring,  vrith  flowery  wreaths, 
Comes  on  young  Zephyr's  wing, 
And  every  bird  soft  music  breathes, 
'T  is  love  that  makes  them  sing. 

Love  blossoms  on  the  forest  trees. 

And  paints  each  garden  flower. 
Gives  honey  to  the  laboring  bees 

In  every  sylvan  bower. 

Love  breathes  in  every  wind  that  blows. 

And  fragrance  fills  the  air  ; 
Meanders  in  each  stream  that  flows. 

Inviting  pleasures  there. 

Love  brings  the  golden  harvest  in. 

And  fills  her  stores  with  food  ; 
It  moves  ten  thousand  tongues  to  sing 

Of  universal  good.'* 


SPIRIT    OF   HIS   DOCTRINE.  271 

''If  we  believe  that  God  so  loved  us  that  he  sent  his 
Son  to  die  for  us,  we  ought  to  love  one  another,"  he 
says.  ''  Shall  I  not  love  those  objects  whom  my  God 
*' loves'?  Shall  I  not  love  all  those  for  whose  sins  he 
''sent  his  Son  to  be  a  propitiation?  Most  assuredly. 
"  This  is  a  consequence  naturally  to  be  expected  from  our 
"  belief  I  do  not  say  that  all  who  profess  the  doctrine 
"  do  love  one  another  as  they  ought ;  but  I  have  the  con- 
"  fidence  to  say  that  no  one  who  possesses  the  real  senti- 
"  ment,  the  real  principle,  in  his  heart,  can  do  otherwise 
"  than  love  all  mankind.  And  here  you  will  easily  per- 
"  ceive  that  all  the  commandments  of  the  gospel  are  to 
"  be  obeyed.  For  when  we  love  one  another  and  love 
"  God,  what  duty  is  there  that  will  be  neglected?  If 
"  this  will  not  lead  us  to  our  duty,  what  will  1  Will  ter- 
"  ror  make  us  do  our  duty?  No;  for,  referring  once 
"  more  to  the  similitude,  what  drove  your  children  away? 
"  It  was  believing  the  story  they  were  told  of  your  char- 
"  acter.  What  brought  them  back?  Knowing  you 
"  were  good.  And  know  you  not  that  it  is  the  goodness 
'-^  of  God  that  leadeth  to  repentance?  Why,  then, 
"  should  not  his  goodness  be  preached  to  sinners?  Why 
"  should  we  be  told  such  awful  stories  with  regard  to 
"eternity?  Why  should  we  be  told  that  there  is  an 
"  everlasting  state  of  burning,  in  order  to  induce  us  to 
"love  our  Father  in  heaven?  0!  incongruous  doc- 
"  trine  !  Let  it  be  banished  from  the  world,  and  let  the 
"  angel  of  the  covenant  proclaim  the  love  of  God  to  man- 
"  kind ;  and  may  the  world  be  converted.     Man  will  then 


272  BIOGRAPHY. 

"love  his  fellow-man;  we  shall  all  see  that  we  are  the 
"children  of  God,  that  we  are  all  the  objects  of  God's 
"  love,  and  all  the  objects  of  our  Saviour's  grace.  Believe 
"  this  truth,  treasure  it  up  in  your  hearts,  let  your  affec- 
"  tions  move  with  assent,  love  God  and  love  one  another, 
"  and  the  God  of  love  and  peace  shall  be  with  you." 

All  his  writings  and  all  of  his  conversation,  both  public 
and  private,  were  thoroughly  imbued  with  this  belief  and 
principle  of  universal  love ;  it  ran  like  a  golden  stratum 
through  all  his  life  and  conduct,  imbuing  eve»y  sentiment 
and  every  thought.  His  doctrine  was  such  that  a  realiz- 
ing sense  of  its  character  must  invariably  thus  affect  the 
firm  and  relying  believer.  He  never  held  forth  dark 
threats,  nor  adopted,  like  many  preachers  about  him,  the 
doleful  tones  of  grief  when  he  talked  about  religion.  "  If 
"good  people,"  says  Archbishop  Usher,  "would  make 
"  their  goodness  agreeable,  and  smile  instead  of  frowning" 
"  in  their  virtue,  how  many  would  they  win  to  the  good 
"  cause  !"  Mr.  Ballou  was  affected,  in  his  cheerful  and 
happy  belief  of  universal  salvation,  like  Haydn,  who,  in 
answer  to  a  query  of  the  poet  Carpani,  how  it  happened 
that  his  church  music  was  ever  of  an  animating  and  cheer- 
ful character,  answered,  —  "I  cannot  make  it  otherwise. 
"  I  write  according  to  the  thoughts  which  I  feel ;  — when 
"  I  think  upon  God,  my  heart  is  so  full  of  joy  that  the 
"  notes  dance  and  leap  as  it  were  from  my  pen." 

How  many  there  are  among  us  who,  the  moment  the 
subject  of  religion  is  mentioned,  put  on  long  faces,  and 
talk  as  if  they  were  mourning  their  own  lot  and  that  of 


SPIRIT    OF   HIS   DOCTRINE.  273 

all  creation,  '*  in  hopes  to  merit  heaven  by  making  earth 
a  hell!"  Such  people,  by  their  example  and  bearing, 
would  lead  us  to  believe  that  churches  are  institutions 
reared  for  the  purpose  of  encouraging  long  faces  and  dys- 
pepsia, instead  of  pure  altars  from  whence  may  ascend 
the  glad  incense  of  grateful  hearts.  How  strongly  it  is 
impressed  upon  us  that  "  God  loves  the  cheerful  giver  ! " 
and  did  not  Christ  reproach  the  Pharisees  for  disfiguring 
their  faces  with  a  sad  countenance  ?  To  use  the  forcible 
language  of  another,  they  make  of  themselves  "Hypo- 
"  crites,  who,  to  persuade  men  that  angels  lodge  in  their 
''hearts,  hang  out  a  devil  for  a  sign  in  their  counte- 
*' nances."  "It  is  quite  deplorable,"  says  Lady  Mor- 
gan, ''  to  see  how  many  rational  creatures,  or  at  least  who 
"are  thought  so,  mistake  suffering  for  sanctity,  and  think 
"a  sad  face  and  a  gloomy  habit  of  mind  propitious  offer- 
"ings  to  that  Deity  whose  works  are  all  light  and  lustre, 
"and  harmony  and  loveliness." 

Such  was  the  philosophy  of  the  subject  of  these  me- 
moirs, such  his  religion,  such  the  doctrine  which  he 
taught.  He  found  no  cause  for  sorrow  in  his  belief,  but 
a  never-failing  fountain  of  joy  ever  welled  up  in  his 
breast,  pure  and  sparkhng. 

Mr.  Ballou's  rehgious  behef,  the  faith  which  he  pro- 
mulgated with  such  zeal  and  wonderful  effect,  can  be 
summed  up  in  a  few  words.  He  held  that  God  judges 
the  human  family  in  the  earth ;  that  every  man  must 
receive  according  to  the  sin  he  hath  done,  and  that  there 
is  no  respect  of  persons.     That  the  "righteous  shall  be 


274  BIOGRAPHY. 

recompensed  in  the  earth,  much  more  the  Avicked  and  the 
sinner."  That  the  future  state  of  existence  will  be  one 
of  unalloyed  happiness  for  the  whole  human  family. 
That  God  is  a  being  who  governs  the  world  with  a 
parent's  regard,  and  not  with  the  wrath  of  a  tyrant ;  that 
the  world  could  be  led  to  love  him,  but  never  driven  to  do 
it  through  fear.  That  love,  not  wrath,  should  be  preached 
to  the  people.  That  all  punishment  is  designed  by  the 
Divine  Spirit  for  the  reformation  of  the  sinner,  and  con- 
sequently must  take  place  where  the  sin  is  committed. 
That  the  reward  of  good  deeds  is  to  encourage  well  doing, 
and  must  come  when  and  where  the  w^orthy  acts  are  done. 
He  believed  in  no  more  dreadful  hell  than  is  produced  by 
the  consequences  of  sin  about  us,  with  the  still,  bitter 
gnawings  of  conscience ;  and  in  no  sweeter  or  more  desira- 
ble reward  than  an  approving  conscience,  and  the  natural 
consequences  of  doing  good.  He  taught  that  man  must 
be  saved  from  his  sins,  not  from  the  punishment  of 
them, —  that  is  impossible, —  and  that  to  be  happy  we 
must  "do  justly,  love  mercy,  and  walk  humbly  with 
God." 

He  believed  that,  in  order  to  prove  that  misery  will 
exist  in  the  future  or  eternal  state,  it  must  first  be  made 
to  appear  that  sin  will  exist  in  that  state.  But  this 
he  did  not  believe  could  be  proved  from  any  scriptural 
testimony ;  on  the  contrary,  he  was  fully  convinced  that 
the  Bible  taught  that  "He  that  is  dead  is  freed  from 
sin."  To  quote  his  own  words  on  this  point:  "  We  have 
'^  shown,  in  order  for  justice  to  require  the  endless  mis- 


SPIRIT   OF   HIS   DOCTRINE.  275 

•'ery  of  any  moral  being,  it  must,  of  necessity,  require 
*'  the  endless  continuance  of  sin,  than  which  nothing  can 
"be  more  absurd."  Again  he  says  :  "We  have  suffi- 
"  ciently  argued  that  man  cannot  be  miserable  in  conse- 
"  quence  of  moral  condemnation,  any  longer  than  he  is, 
''in  a  moral  sense,  a  sinner."  And  we  have  often  heard 
him  make  the  remark,  in  regard  to  limited  future  punish- 
ment, that  if  any  one  w'ould  produce  but  only  one  passage 
of  scripture  which  proves,  beyond  a  reasonable  doubt, 
that  sin  or  the  sinner  will  exist,  as  such,  in  the  eternal, 
immortal  state,  then  I  give  up  my  doctrine  of  no  future 
punishment ;  but  until  this  is  done,  I  shall  hold  to  the 
doctrine  that  the  Scriptures  do  not  teach  the  principle 
even  of  a  limited  future  punishment.  Mr.  Ballou  would 
not  allow  analogy  to  take  the  place  of  scriptural  proof  on 
so  important  a  subject  as  the  destiny  of  man  in  the 
immortal  state.  He  had  nothing  to  do  with  mere  asser- 
tions, which  had  not  a  "thus  saith  the  Lord"  for  their 
support,  on  any  doctrinal  point. 

This  feature  of  his  mind  cannot  be  too  strongly  insisted 
upon.  He  was  not  content  with  relying  on  the  spirit 
of  the  Scriptures,  which  would  have  fully  sustained  his 
doctrine,  but  he  conciliated  the  spirit  and  the  letter,  and 
rested  every  proposition  he  advanced  on  this  immutable 
and  impregnable  basis.  If  ever  a  man  strictly  obeyed  the 
injunction  to  "search  the  Scriptures,"  it  was  Mr.  Ballou. 
They  were  the  armor  from  which  he  drew  the  shield  that 
sheltered  him  in  conflict,  and  all  the  shafts  that  garnished 
his  quiver.     He  had  the  very  words  of  Christ  and  his 


276  BIOGRAPHY. 

apostles  for  every  item  of  liis  creed,  and  such  creed  alone 
would  he  accept  as  might  be  adapted  to  this  standard. 
He  was  not  one  of  those  self-complacent  and  easy  theorists, 
who  readily  support  their  favorite  doctrine  by  a  few 
ambiguous  texts,  or  an  arbitrary  construction  of  a  mooted 
passage.  He  was  far  too  conscientious  for  this ;  the 
language  of  learned  commentators,  however  elegant  the 
phraseology  and  plausible  the  reason,  never  satisfied  him. 
His  standard  was  fixed  in  the  Bible. 

There  was  little  of  the  enthusiast, —  to  use  the  term  in 
its  common  acceptation, —  nothing  of  the  bigot  and  fanatic, 
in  his  nature.  He  first  convinced  himself  of  the  truth  of 
his  ideas  ;  he  reflected  and  pondered  them  deeply  by 
himself,  in  some  of  those  abstracted  moods  peculiar  to 
him,  examining  them  in  every  light,  trying  them  by 
every  test,  dispassionately  and  calmly ;  and  then  gave 
them  to  the  world,  armed  at  all  points,  and  ready  for 
defence  against  attack.  And  how  prompt  and  ready  he 
was  to  defend  what  he  had  satisfied  himself  was  the  truth, 
we  need  not  reiterate  here.  The  language  in  which  he 
enforced  his  arguments  was  simple  and  clear,  because  his 
ideas  were  so.  They  needed  not  the  tinsel  garb  of  rhetoric, 
the  flowers  of  a  refined  oratory,  to  make  them  presentable 
to  the  world ;  they  needed  no  foreign  or  artificial  aid ;  — 
no,  they  stood  forth  clear,  simple,  strong,  arrayed  in  the 
garb  and  radiant  with  the  light  of  truth  and  of  nature. 
They  stood  the  test  of  public  scrutiny,  because  they  had 
been  refined  in  the  alembic  of  his  own  severe  and  critical 
mind.     This  simphcity,  which  is  fast  becoming  an  old- 


SPIRIT   OF   HIS   DOCTRINE.  277 

fashioned  virtue,  commended  the  preacher  to  the  earnest 
seekers  after  truth.  It  is  a  pretty  fair  inference  to  arrive 
at,  when  you  hear  a  rehgion  preached  which  requires 
disguise  and  ornament,  that  the  truth  is  not  in  it.  Where 
truth  is  there  need  be  no  such  garbing ;  it  is  only  error 
that  requires  to  be  gilded,  like  the  covering  to  bitter  pills, 
used  to  render  them  sweet.  The  gospel  of  Christ  appeals 
to  the  judgment,  not  to  the  taste. 

In  relation  to  the  argument  of  analogy,  as  used  to  prove 
the  doctrine  of  punishment  in  a  future  state,  we  subjoin 
the  following,  in  his  own  words :  —  "  Another  ground  on 
"which  the  advocates  of  a  future  state  of  rewards  and 
*' punishments  place  much  dependence  for  the  support  of 
*'  the  doctrine,  they  denominate  analogy.  We  think  it  too 
"hazardous  to  attempt  anything  like  an  accurate  state- 
"ment  of  the  particular  arguments,  which  are  made  to 
"depend  on  this  principle,  in  favor  of  this  doctrine;  for 
"  we  might  be  liable  to  some  mistakes,  which  would  repre- 
"  sent  the  views  of  its  advocates  differently  from  their 
"  mode  of  representing  them.  Our  liability  to  misrepre- 
"  sent  in  such  an  attempt  seems  unavoidable,  on  account 
"  of  the  fact  that  there  has  been  nothing  like  a  system  of 
"  reasoning  yet  exhibited  on  the  general  subject.  We  feel 
"  safe,  however,  in  saying,  that,  as  far  as  we  have  been 
"  informed,  those  who  rely  on  what  they  call  analogy  to 
"support  the  doctrine  of  future  retribution, hold  that,  in 
"  all  respects  which  are  necessary  to  carry  sin  and  its 
"  miseries  into  the  future  state,  that  state  will  be  analo- 
"gous  to  this  mode  of  being.  So  that,  reasoning  from 
24 


278  BIOGRAPHY. 

*  analogy,  as  moral  agents  sin,  and  thereby  render  them- 
'  selves  miserable  in  this  world,  the  same  moral  agents 

*  may  continue  to  do  the  same  in  the  world  to  come.  In 
'  connection  with  this  argument  it  is  urged,  that,  as  it  is 
'evident  to  our  senses  that  sin  often  escapes  a  just  retri- 
'  bution  in  this  world,  it  must  be  recompensed  in  another 
'state,  or  divine  justice  must  forever  be  deprived  of  its 
'  claims. 

"  On  reasonings  of  such  a  character,  we  shall  use  the 
'  freedom  to  say,  that  they  appear  to  have  no  higher 
'authority  than  mere  human  speculations  injudiciously 
'  managed.  That  they  are  nothing  more  than  simple 
'speculations,  is  evident  from  the  fact  that  they  are 
'not  founded  on  any  divine  authority.  We  presume 
'  that  their  own  advocates  never  ventured  to  support 
'  them  by  scripture  authority.  And  that  they  are 
'managed  injudiciously,  is  very  apparent  from  the 
'circumstances,  that  while  they  profess  to  be  justi- 
'  fied  by  the  principle  of  analogy,  they  are  a  direct 
'denial  of  the  very  analogy  on  which  they  depend. 
'  Theologians  who  endeavor  to  exert  an  influence  over 
'  the  minds  of  people  by  means  of  these  speculations,  are 
'  constantly  urging  that  in  this  world  we  see  sin  procur- 
'  ing  for  its  agents  the  riches  and  honors  of  the  world, 
'  while  it  escapes  judicial  detection,  and  goes  unpunished. 
'  Now,  if  they  were  consistent  with  their  analogy  and 
'  with  themselves,  they  would  see  at  once  that  in  the 
'  next  state  of  existence  sin  will  procure  for  its  agents 
'  the  riches  and  honors  of  that  world,  and  there,  as  well 


SPIRIT    OF   HIS   DOCTRINE.  279 

'as  here,  escape  judicial  detection,  and  go  unpunished. 
'They  would  likewise  see  that  as  divine  justice  can 
'  quiet  its  own  claims  in  this  world,  without  administer- 
'  ing  a  full  and  adequate  retribution  of  human  conduct, 
'  it  may  do  the  same  in  the  future  state.  In  this  way 
'  we  might  proceed  and  make  the  future  state  precisely 
'  like  the  present ;  for  we  have  no  more  authority  for 
'  carrying  sin  and  its  miseries  into  a  future  world,  than 
'  we  have  for  carrying  all  other  things  into  that  state 
'  which  we  find  in  this.  Reasoning  from  all  that  we 
'  know^,  we  must  believe  that,  so  long  as  men  sin,  they 
'  will  do  so  from  the  beguiling  power  of  temptation.  If, 
'  then,  we  believe  that  sin  will  exist  in  the  future  state, 
'  we  must  suppose  that  temptation  will  there  act  on  the 
'  mind  with  a  deceiving  influence.  In  this  world  the 
'  wicked  are  allured  with  the  hopes  of  temporal  gain,  and 
'these  attractions  are  strengthened  by  the  belief  that 
'  crime  will  not  be  detected,  and  that  punishment  will  be 
'  avoided.  Were  it  not  for  these  hopes  and  allurements, 
'  no  wrong-doing  would  be  practised  in  this  world ;  and 
'  to  suppose  that  we  shall  transgress  the  law  of  God  in  the 
'  future  w^orld,  without  any  temptation,  is  a  speculation 
'  altogether  arbitrary  and  capricious,  as  well  as  contrary 
'  to  analogy.''^ 

"  Of  late,  the  writer  of  this,"  says  Mr.  Ballou,  in  one 
of  his  last  published  sermons,  "  has  seen  an  inclination, 
"in  some  of  the  professed  preachers  of  Universalism,  to 
"adopt  some  of  the  peculiar  opinions  of  our  Unitarian 
"fraternity.     Among  other  things,  is   the  opinion  that 


280  BIOGRAPHY. 

'  men  carry  into  the  next  world  the  imperfections  of  this ; 
'  so  that  their  moral  condition  hereafter  will  depend  on 
'  the  characters  they  form  while  here  in  the  flesh ;  but 
'  that  they  may  and  will  improve  and  progress  in  virtue 
'  and  holiness  in  the  spirit  world.  This  opinion  being 
'  rather  newly  adopted,  and  as  it  seems  to  ingratiate 
'  them  into  favor  with  Unitarians,  it  is  quite  natural  for 
'  such  preachers  to  devote  not  a  small  share  of  public 
'  labor  to  lead  the  minds  of  their  hearers  to  the  adoption 
'  of  such  views  of  the  future  state.  Whenever  the  writer 
'  of  this  discourse  comes  in  contact  with  these  labors  and 
'  opinions,  he  feels  it  to  be  his  duty,  in  a  friendly, 
'brotherly,  and  candid  manner,  to  endeavor  to  bring 
'  them  to  the  test  of  some  acknowledged  standard.  It  is 
'  worthy  of  consideration,  that  the  New  Testament  gives 
'us  but  little  on  the  subject  of  man's  future  state. 
'  There  can  be  no  doubt  but  Jesus  was  known  to  believe 
'  and  preach  a  doctrine  embracing  the  fact  of  the  resur- 
'  rection,  and  an  immortal  state  for  the  human  family. 
'  All  this  is  clearly  manifested  by  the  question  asked 
'  him  by  the  Sadducees  respecting  the  resurrection.  In 
'the  answer  which  Jesus  returned,  we  have  all  which 
'  gives  us  any  account  respecting  the  state  of  man  here- 
'after  which  was  spoken  by  him.  In  this  answer,  we 
'  are  told  the  following  facts :  —  1st.  That,  in  the  future 
'  world,  they  will  neither  marry  nor  be  given  in  mar- 
'  riage.  2d.  That,  in  that  state,  men  will  be  the  chil- 
'  dren  of  God,  being  the  children  of  the  resurrection.  3d. 
'  That  they  will  be  equal  unto  the  angels,  and  that  they 


SPIRIT   OF   HIS   DOCTRINE.  281 

*'can  die  no  more.  4th.  That  the  doctrine  of  the  resur- 
"  rectioQ  was  shown  by  Moses,  and  that  God  is  not  the  God 
"  of  the  dead,  but  of  the  hving,  for  we  all  live  unto  him. 
*'  St.  Paul  says  more  on  the  subject  of  the  resurrection,  and 
''of  the  future  state,  than  did  Jesus.  He  says,  'As  in 
"  Adam  all  die,  even  so  in  Christ  shall  all  be  made  alive.' 
"He  also  distinguishes  man's  state  and  condition  in  the 
"future  or  resurrection  state,  from  his  condition  here,  as 
"follows: — 'It  is  sow^n  in  corruption,  it  is  raised  in 
"  incorruption :  it  is  sow^n  in  dishonor,  it  is  raised  in 
"glory:  it  is  sown  in  weakness,  it  is  raised  in  power:  it 
"is  sown  a  natural  body,  it  is  raised  a  spiritual  body.' 
"  Thus  we  are  taught  that  our  future  state  will  differ 
"from  the  present  as  incorruption  differs  from  corrup- 
"tion;  as  glory  differs  from  dishonor;  as  power  differs 
"  from  weakness ;  as  a  spiritual  body  differs  from  a  natural 
"  body.  Now,  if  we  allow  ourselves  to  carry  our  specula- 
"  tions  respecting  our  future  state  not  only  beyond  all  the 
"  Scriptures  say  on  the  subject,  but  so  as  to  adopt  distinc- 
"  tions  in  that  state,  which  evidently  conflict  with  the 
"divine  Word,  do  we  not  say,  by  so  doing,  that  divine 
"  Revelation  is  not  only  incomplete,  but  also  inaccurate  ?  " 
He  believed  that  all  those  promises  which  give  the 
assurance  of  the  final  holiness  and  happiness  of  the 
entire  race  of  man  depend  solely  on  the  will  and  power 
and  goodness  of  God,  and  not  on  any  conditions  for 
the  creature  to  perform.  While  dwelling  upon  this 
theme,  which  he  delighted  to  do,  he  says  :  —  "  Let  us  pass 
"to  the  prophecies  of  Isaiah;  see  Chap.  25:  6,  7,  8. 
24* 


282  BIOGRAPHY. 

' '  And  in  this  mountain  shall  the  Lord  of  Hosts  make 
'unto  all  people  a  feast  of  fat  things.  *  *  *  And 
'  he  will  destroy  in  this  mountain  the  face  of  the  cover- 
'  ing  cast  over  all  people,  and  the  vail  that  is  spread  over 
'  all  nations.  He  will  swallow  up  death  in  victory ;  and 
'  the  Lord  God  will  wipe  away  tears  from  off  all  faces ; 
'  and  the  rebuke  of  his  people  shall  he  take  away  from 
'off  all  the  earth  :  for  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it'  No 
'  one  will  doubt  that  the  provisions  here  spoken  of  are 
'  those  which  are  provided  in  the  gospel  of  salvation, — 
'  made  for  all  people.  The  vail  of  darkness  which  is 
'  over  all  people  is  to  be  taken  away.  Death  is  to  be 
'  swallowed  up  in  victory,  and  tears  wiped  from  off  all 
'  faces.  The  rebuke  of  God's  people  shall  be  taken  from 
'  off  all  the  earth.  And  the  proof  is  in  the  above  pas- 
'  sage,  '  for  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it.'  " 

Mr.  Ballou  says :  —  "I  look  with  strong  expectation  for 
'  that  period  when  all  sin,  and  every  degree  of  unrecon- 
'  ciliation,  will  be  destroyed,  by  the  divine  power  of  that 
'  love  which  is  stronger  than  death,  which  many  waters 
'  cannot  quench,  nor  the  floods  drown ;  in  which  alone  I 
'  put  my  trust,  and  in  which  my  hope  is  anchored  for  all 
'mankind;  earnestly  praying  that  the  desire  of  the 
'  righteous  may  not  be  cut  off.  The  fulness  of  times 
'  Avill  come,  and  the  times  of  the  restitution  of  all  things 
'  will  be  accomplished.  Then  shall  truth  be  victorious, 
'  and  all  error  flee  to  eternal  night.  Then  will  univer- 
'  sal  songs  of  honor  be  sung  to  the  praise  of  Him  who 
'  liveth  for  ever  and  ever." 


SPIRIT   OF   HIS   DOCTRINE.  283 

In  relation  to  the  subject  of  his  faith,  Rev.  A.  A.  Miner, 
in  his  funeral  sermon  delivered  on  the  occasion,  says  :  — 

"Let  me  say,  then,  that  he  was  a  man  of  unsiverv- 
^Hng  faith.  He  believed  in  the  Bible  as  the  treasury 
"  of  divine  revelation.  His  ministry  was  based  upon  it. 
"  Few  men  have  confined  themselves  so  exclusively  to  its 
''themes.  None  have  treated  those  themes  with  greater 
"  clearness  and  power.  He  studied  the  sacred  page  with 
"  a  spirit  equally  removed  from  the  Germanic  philosophy, 
"  on  the  one  hand,  and  from  Calvinistic  bigotry  on  the 
"  other.  In  the  fulness  of  its  promises,  the  riches  of  its 
"  grace,  and  the  blessedness  of  its  hopes,  his  soul  contin- 
"ually  delighted.  It  was  to  him  the  '  Book  of  books;' 
"and,  at  the  advanced  age  of  more  than  fourscore  years, 
"its  truths,  still  fresh  in  his  memory,  continually  em- 
"  ployed  his  understanding,  and  its  glories  enraptured 
"  his  heart. 

"  He  believed  also  in  God  ;  —  in  God  as  the  supreme 
"good.  He  believed  in  him  as  sovereign,  —  not  simply 
"  as  a  candidate  for  sovereignty,  but  as  already  sovereign; 
"  nor  alone  as  sovereign  to  create,  to  uphold,  to  rule, 
"  to  condemn,  and  to  chasten  or  destroy.  So  far  had  the 
^^  world's  faith  gone.  He  regarded  him  as  sovereign, 
"  not  to  do  evil,  but  to  do  good,  and  to  do  good  only. 
"  He  behoved  God  limited  by  his  very  nature,  to  the 
"doing  of  good,  —  that  he  is  no  more  able  to  do  evil 
"  than  he  is  to  be  untrue.  And,  since  it  is  admitted,  on 
"  all  hands,  that  there  are  moral  influences  by  which 
"  some  will  be  saved  in  perfect  harmony  with  the  exercise 


284  BIOGRAPHY. 

'  of  their  own  voluntary  powers,  he  believed  that  a  God 
'  who  is  really  sovereign  in  his  moral  domain  can  accom- 
'  plish  in  all  souls  whatever  is  possible  to  be  accomplished 
'  in  any.  Thus,  from  the  character  of  God  he  saw  freely 
'  flowing  the  blessed  promises  of  his  word. 

"  His  faith,  too,  in  Christ  stood  related  to  the  affec- 
'  tionate  Father  as  the  sovereign  cause.  Christ  was 
'  God's  messenger  to  man.  He  came  not  to  procure  the 
'  Father's  love  for  the  world,  but  as  a  testimony  of  that 
'  love.  He  came  not  to  open  to  man  the  door  of  mercy, 
'  but  to  strengthen  man  to  walk  in  the  already  open 
'  door.  His  mission  was  not  simply  to  explore  the  wide- 
'  spread  moral  waste,  but  to  possess  and  cultivate  it;  not 
'to  make  salvation  possible,  but  actual;  for  God  'hath 
'appointed  him  heii^  of  all  things,' — 'hath  given  all 
'  things  into  his  hands,  that  he  should  give  eternal  life  to 
'  as  many  as  God  had  given  him.'  Thus  it  was  his  mis- 
'  sion  to  accomplish  a  work,  rather  than  to  offer  to 
'  accomplish  it ;  and,  by  his  ever-memorable  prayer  on 
'  the  cross,  he  perfected  the  power  by  which  the  world 
'  will  be  saved  ;  as  he  said,  '  And  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up 
'  from  the  earth,  idIU  drmo  all  men  unto  me.''  " 

No  one  who  has  thus  far  followed  this  unpretending 
but  truthful  biography,  can  fail  to  admit  the  full  justice 
of  the  foregoing  analysis  and  eulogy  of  Mr.  Ballou's 
moral  and  mental  nature.  The  faith  of  which  Mr.  Miner 
speaks  was  the  strongest  characteristic  of  the  man.  It 
illumined  his  whole  life.  His  intellect  was  not  clouded 
by  doubts.     In  the  geniality  and  genuineness  of  his  faith 


SPIRIT  OF  HIS  DOCTRINE.  285 

he  proceeded  to  the  study  of  the  book  of  books ;  every 
leaf  he  turned  in  the  sacred  volume  confirmed  the  stead- 
fast belief  of  his  soul.  He  read  it  not  as  a  verbal  critic, 
not  as  a  worldly  philosopher,  ambitious  to  found  some 
system  on  the  hints  he  might  discover,  but  as  a  Christian 
seeking,  where  he  knew  he  should  discover  it,  the  eternal 
light  of  truth.  It  was,  indeed,  to  him  a  source  of  unsul- 
lied, uncloying,  constant  delight.  Daily  and  hourly  he 
discovered  new  beauties  and  new  truths  in  its  pages.  Its 
story  rolled  before  him  like  a  wave  of  unbroken  harmony, 
until  his  mental  vision  became  almost  microscopic  in  its 
powers  of  detection.  Thus  filled  with  the  word,  thus 
made  conversant  with  its  glowing  truths  and  beauties,  he 
constantly  renewed  and  multiplied  the  means  of  awaken- 
inoj  and  confirmino^  faith  in  others. 

As  we  have  labored  to  show,  his  reverence  and  love  for 
his  Maker  were  boundless ;  they  absorbed  his  whole  being 
—  not,  however,  to  the  exclusion  of  earthly  objects  of 
affection,  for  he  well  knew  that  a  true  love  of  our  Father 
in  heaven  is  totally  incompatible  with  the  neglect  of  his 
creatures.  Therefore,  he  was  as  unlike  as  possible  to 
those  ascetics  of  the  middle  ages,  or  the  recluses  of  our 
own  day,  who  fancy  that  a  strict  seclusion  from  the  world, 
and  a  complete  abandonment  to  religious  exercises,  is  the 
most  acceptable  offering  that  can  be  made  at  the  foot  of 
the  altar.  This  was  an  idea  that  found  no  sympathy  in 
his  bosom ;  he  knew  that  there  was  nothing  inharmonious 
between  religious  and  social  duties,  and  that  to  love  our 
fellow-creatures  is  a  proof  of  love  towards  God.     His 


286  BIOGRAPHY. 

devotion  was  filial,  but  of  that  transcendent  nature  which 
far  surpasses  all  the  affections  of  this  world.  His  bound- 
less love  of  God  rested  on  his  vivid  conception  of  his 
nature,  as  all-powerful,  all-merciful,  and  all-good,  the 
enthroned  sovereign  of  the  universe,  the  Father  and 
Benefactor  of  each  and  all  of  the  human  race. 

In  a  recent  letter  to  the  "  Star  in  the  West,"  Eev. 
George  H.  Emerson  says :  — 

' '  The  theological  mission  of  Hosea  Ballou  was  this : 
"  —  to  assert  the  benevolent  and  perfect  sovereignty 
"  of  Almighty  God.  I  once  said  to  him,  '  Suppose  the 
"  idea  of  God's  sovereignty  were  taken  out  of  you,  how 
"  much  would  there  be  left  of  you?'  His  answer  was 
"significant,  and  comprised  three  words, — '  O  my  sold  ! ' 
"  Of  course,  these  three  words,  of  themselves  simply, 
"  convey  no  answer;  but  the  tone  with  which  they  were 
"uttered  said,  very  distinctly,  that,  the  idea  of  God's 
"sovereignty  taken  away,  there  would  be  no  Hosea  Bal- 
"lou.  But  this  great  man  did  not  simply  believe  that 
"  God  is  a  sovereign,  but,  further,  that  God  is  a  benevo- 
"  lent  sovereign;  he  not  only  believed  that  God  ruled  in 
"  the  armies  of  heaven  and  among  the  inhabitants  of  the 
"  earth,  but  that  he  ruled  them  with  the  especial  object 
"  of  bestowing  happiness ;  he  not  only  beheved  that  God 
"  worked  all  things  after  the  counsels  of  his  own  will,  but 
"  that  it  was  God's  will  that  all  should  be  saved  and  come 
"  to  a  knowledge  of  the  truth.  Every  one  who  has  heard 
"  or  read  him  will  recollect  how  frequently  he  would 
"illustrate  his  views  of  the  divine  government  by  the 


SPIKIT   OF  HIS    DOCTRINE.  287 

"beautiful  story  of  Joseph  and  his  ten  brethren  : — 'But 
"as  for  you,  ye  thought  evil  against  me;  but  God 
"  meant  it  unto  good,  to  bring  to  pass  as  it  is  this  day,  to 
"  save  much  people  alive.'  This  verse  contained  volumes 
"  of  meaning  with  Father  Ballou." 

Such  was  the  sum  and  substance  of  his  doctrine,  his 
life-long  mission,  the  creed  he  held  forth  to  the  people  for 
more  than  sixty  years. 

Some  of  his  religious  opponents  have  frequently  charged 
him  with  card-playing,  an  amusement  which  we  conceive  to 
be  of  no  evil  import  in  itself,  but  the  charge  was  designed 
as  a  matter  of  reproach  against  him.  Now,  we  happen 
to  know,  and  can  say  for  a  certainty,  that  Mr.  Ballou  did 
not  know  one  card  from  another,  nor  could  he  have  named 
a  dozen  cards  rightly,  had  his  very  life  depended  upon 
his  doing  so. 

This  may  be  thought,  perhaps,  a  trifling  matter  to  notice ; 
but  the  truth  is,  his  religious  opponents,  finding  no  evil 
in  him  that  they  might  expose,  invented  this  charge  to 
prejudice  the  public  mind,  and  one  minister  in  New  Eng- 
land more  than  once  publicly  declared  it  from  his  pulpit ; 
though,  when  called  upon  by  one  who  heard  him,  and 
who  knew  the  subject  of  this  biography,  he  was  puzzled 
to  produce  the  name  of  his  informant.  It  is  within  our 
own  recollection  that  these  stories  were  rife,  and  that  they 
were  very  generally  talked  of.  It  was  also  sneeringly 
said  that  he  preached  to  the  lowest  classes  of  society,  and 
that  respectable  or  intelligent  persons  never  attended  his 
meetings ;  that  some  of  the  most  wicked  and  sinful  of  the 


288  BIOGRAPHY. 

community  were  found  listening  to  him,  and  that  they 
were  always  welcome  ! 

These  declarations  were  often  made  as  evidences, 
weighing  not  alone  against  him,  but  also  against  the 
truth  and  godly  character  of  his  doctrine;  they  were 
preferred  by  clergymen  from  their  pulpits,  and  often  in 
opposition  religious  papers ;  but,  of  course,  this  was  more 
frequently  the  case  during  his  early  settlement  in  Boston 
than  in  subsequent  years.  The  first  part  of  the  latter 
charge  brought  against  him  needs  no  refutation ;  an  intel- 
ligent public  can  judge  of  its  truth  ;  but  we  cannot  refrain 
from  calling  the  attention  of  the  reader  to  the  spirit  that 
prompted  the  last  clause.  How  very  like  it  is  to  that 
evinced  by  the  Pharisees  of  old,  who  said  reproachfully 
of  their  Divine  Master,  "  This  man  receiveth  sinners  and 
eateth  with  them."  And  now  mark  the  reply  of  Jesus 
to  these  grumblers  :  — "  The  whole,"  says  he,  "  need  not 
the  physician,  but  they  that  are  sick."  "The  most 
wicked  and  sinful  of  the  community,"  said  Mr.  Ballou's 
revilers,  "  are  found  listening  to  him,  and  they  are  always 
welcome  !  " 

The  truth  is,  that  Mr.  Ballou  made  no  distinction  or 
selection  among  auditors ;  he  as  readily  preached  to  the 
poor  and  humble,  as  to  those  "clad  in  purple  and  fine 
linen,"  who  "fared  sumptuously  every  day."  He  never 
withheld  his  services;  it  might  be,  perhaps,  that  he 
preached  with  more  fervor  to  those  who  stood  in  the 
clearest  need  of  consolation  and  good  tidings,  than  to 
those  who  enjoyed  every  opportunity  of  mental  and 


SPIRIT   OF  HIS  DOCTRINE.  289 

intellectual  culture.  But  it  is  certain,  that  a  preacher 
with  the  universality  of  Mr.  Ballou's  vocation  neither 
can  nor  ought  to  draw  distinctions ;  he  is  summoned  to 
speak  whenever  and  wherever  his  services  are  needed,  and 
the  preacher  of  the  gospel  who  should  refuse  because  the 
call  came  from  the  sinful  would  be  as  much  to  blame  as 
he  would  be  to  disregard  the  call  of  the  righteous.  The 
true  soldier  of  Christ  and  the  gospel  recognizes  no  dis- 
tinction of  rank ;  his  consolations  are  as  warmly  given  to 
the  nameless  sufferer,  as  when  beside  the  couch  of  the 
millionaire. 

Still  less  is  the  minister  of  the  true  religion  to  refuse 
to  afford  words  of  encouragement  and  advice  to  the  unfor- 
tunate beinoj  who  is  struofdino;  in  the  toils  of  sin.  To 
such  an  one  his  mission  is  absolutely  imperative ;  he  must 
wrestle  with  the  perturbed  and  darkened  spirit,  he  must 
aid  the  awakening  conscience,  struo-o-linoj  to  throw  off  the 
burthen  of  evil  passions,  he  must  point  to  the  undying 
love  of  God  to  man,  and  bid  the  tears  of  the  sinner  be 
dried  up  in  the  effulgent  smile  of  Omnipotence.  If.  there- 
fore, sinners  crowded  to  hear  the  discourses  of  Mr.  Ballou, 
it  was  a  tribute  of  which  a  preacher  of  the  gospel  might 
well  be  proud.  "  To  comfort  and  help  the  weak-hearted, 
and  to  raise  up  those  who  fall,"  is  essentially  the  prov- 
ince of  the  conscientious  preacher ;  and  no  one,  however 
hardened  his  heart,  could  have  listened  to  the  sincere  and 
earnest  words  of  the  subject  of  these  pages,  without 
deriving  some  hope,  some  consolation,  and  some  strength, 
from  the  glorious  doctrine  he  preached  so  eloquently ;  and 
25 


290  BIOGRAPHY. 

that  there  were  very  many  who  were  thus  ransomed  from 
the  thraldom  of  sin  and  consequent  misery,  there  can  be 
no  reasonable  doubt. 

Was  it  true  that  "  sinners  flocked  to  hear  him,"  as  has 
been  said  so  often  by  his  opponents  in  the  way  of  reproach 
against  his  doctrine,  as  being  conducive  to  the  pleasure  of 
such  persons  7  Let  us  pause  for  one  moment,  and  review 
what  he  used  to  say  that  was  particularly  pleasing  to  this 
class  of  hearers.  The  following,  for  instance,  will  suffice 
us, —  it  is  from  his  own  pen  : — "The  vile  affections  of 
-'  sin  will  burn  to  the  destruction  of  the  sweetest  harmo- 
^•'  nies  of  nature ;  the  whitest  robes  of  innocence  are 
"  stained  with  its  indelible  crimson;  the  soul  is  drowned 
"  in  the  black  waters  of  iniquity,  and  the  whole  mind, 
"  with  every  faculty,  is  plunged  into  the  hell  of  moral 
"  death.  Yet,  listen  to  the  worst  of  torments,  in  conse- 
•'  quence  of  sin.  '  A  wounded  conscience  who  can 
''  bear  ? '  A  fire  that  burns  all  the  day  long,  a  sword 
"  that  continually  pierceth  the  soul,  a  sting  that  cannot 
"  exhaust  its  poison,  a  fever  that  never  turns  till  the 
"  patient  dies.  '  A  dart  struck  through  his  liver.' 
"  What  ails  the  sinner  ?  —  why  his  hand  on  his  breast  7 
"  There  gnaws  the  worm  that  never  dies. —  there  burns 
"  the  fire  that  is  never  quenched.  A  consciousness  of 
*'  guilt  destroys  all  the  expected  comforts  and  pleasures 
"  of  sin.  How  strange  it  is  that,  after  a  thousand  disap- 
"  pointments  in  succession,  men  are  not  discouraged  !  0 
"  sin  !  how  you  paint  your  face  !  how  you  flatter  us,  poor 
"  mortals,  on  to  death  !    You  never  appear  to  the  sinner  in 


SPIRIT   OF  HIS  DOCTRINE.  291 

''your  true  character;  you  make  us  fair  promises,  but 
"you  never  fulfilled  one;  your  tongue  is  smoother  than 
"  oil,  but  the  poison  of  asps  is  under  your  lips ;  you  have 
"  impregnated  all  our  passions  with  the  venom  of  your 
"poison;  you  have  spread  gloomy  darkness  over  the 
"  whole  region  of  the  soul ;  you  have  endeavored,  with 
"  your  stupefactive  poison,  to  blunt  the  sword  in  the 
"  hands  of  the  cherubim,  which,  for  your  sake,  keeps 
"  us  from  the  tree  of  life.  A  mistaken  idea  has  been 
"  entertained  of  sin,  even  by  professors.  I  have  often 
"  heard  sincere  ministers  preach,  in  their  reproofs  to  their 
"  hearers,  that  it  was  the  greatest  folly  in  the  world  for 
"  people  to  forego  salvation,  in  a  future  state,  for  the 
"  comforts  and  pleasures  of  sin  in  this.  Such  exhort- 
"  ations  really  defeat  their  intentions.  The  wish  of  the 
"  honest  preacher  is,  that  the  wicked  should  repent  of 
"their  sins,  and  do  better;  but,  at  the  same  time,  he 
"  indicates  that  sin,  at  present,  is  more  productive  of  hap- 
"  piness  than  righteousness  ;  but  that  the  bad  will  come 
"  in  another  world, —  that,  although  doing  well  is  a  hard 
"  way,  yet  its  advantages  will  be  great  in  another  state. 
"  Just  as  much  as  any  person  thinks  sin  to  be  more  hap- 
"  pifying  than  righteousness,  he  is  sinful;  his  heart 
"  esteems  it ;  though  in  some  possible  cases,  for  fear  of  the 
"  loss  of  salvation  in  the  world  to  come,  he  may  abstain 
"  from  some  outward  enormities,  yet  his  heart  is  full  of 
"  the  desire  of  doing  them.  It  is  as  much  the  nature  of 
"  sin  to  torment  the  mind,  as  it  is  the  nature  of  fire  to 
"  burn  our  flesh.     Sin  deprives  us  of  every  rational  en- 


292  BIOGRAPHY. 

"  joyment,  so  far  as  it  captivates  the  mind.  It  was  never 
"able  to  furnish  one  drop  of  cordial  for  the  soul;  her 
"  tender  mercies  are  cruelty,  and  her  breasts  of  consola- 
"  tion  are  gall  and  wormwood." 

Mr.  Ballou's  style  of  preaching  was  of  a  kind  calculated 
to  create  regret  in  the  hearer's  heart  at  his  own  short- 
coming, and  to  plant  a  contrite  spirit  there,  rather  than 
fear  for  the  punishment  of  his  sins.  The  object  of  his 
sermon  was  not  to  terrify  the  sinner,  but  rather  to  lead 
him  into  the  ways  of  peace  and  pleasantness.  His  ser- 
mons were  of  the  character  referred  to  by  Louis  XIV., 
when  he  told  that  eminent  preacher,  Massillon,  "Father, 
"I  have  heard  many  great  pulpit  orators,  and  I  have 
"  been  much  pleased  with  them,  but  every  time  I  hear 
"you  I  am  exceedingly  displeased  with  myself;"  allud- 
ing to  the  sorrow  for  sin  which  Massillon' s  sermons  cre- 
ated in  him.  This  is  the  true  and  effectual  style  of 
preaching,  such  as  will  convert  sinners  from  the  error  of 
their  ways,  by  inducing  a  correct  feeling  in  their  own 
bosoms,  not  by  frightening  them  out  of  their  senses. 
Representing  before  men's  eyes  such  oceans  of  wrath  that 
they  feel  as  though  they  were  sinking  to  perdition,  will 
undoubtedly  lead  them  sometimes  to  profess  religion,  as 
a  drowning  man  would  catch  at  a  straw ;  but  their  profes- 
sion is  made  by  instinct,  not  conviction, —  by  an  undefined 
consciousness  of  necessity,  not  by  any  incentive  of  love. 

It  might  be  said  of  Mr.  Ballou's  sermons  as  Thomas 
Fuller  said  of  Perkins  in  his  eulogy:  "  His  sermons  were 
"not  30  plain  but  that  the  piously  learned  did  admire 


SPIRIT   OP  HIS  DOCTRINE.  293 

''them,  nor  so  learned  but  that  the  plain  did  understand 
"  them.  Unshelling  theological  controversies  of  their 
"  school  terms,  he  made  of  them  plain  and  wholesome 
'•  meat  for  the  people."  "  Children  can  understand 
him,"  was  the  constant  remark  of  the  ministering  breth- 
ren, in  relation  to  Mr.  Ballou's  sermons;  and  he  has 
said  often,  ''If  I  can  make  children  understand  me, 
"  then  I  am  satisfied ;  for  surely  it  must  then  be  that 
"  older  minds  will  comprehend  my  words."  In  this  con- 
nection we  are  forcibly  reminded  of  the  true  incident  of 
the  minister  and  the  child.     Forcible,  simple  as  it  is  ! 

"  Mother,"  said  a  little  girl,  seven  years  old,  "I  could 
"  not  understand  our  minister  to-day,  he  said  so  many 
"  hard  words.  I  wish  he  would  preach  so  that  little  girls 
''  could  understand  him ;  won't  he,  mother  7" 

"  Yes,  I  think  so,  if  we  ask  him." 

It  was  not  long  after  that  the  little  girl's  father  saw 
ber  going  over  to  the  minister's,  and  calling  her  back  to 
him,  he  asked :  — 

"  Where  are  you  going,  Emma  ?" 

"I  am  going  over  to  Mr. 's,  father,"  was  her 

innocent  reply,  "  to  ask  him  to  preach  small !  " 

A  hint  this  that  many  might  improve  by. 

To  the  place  of  his  birth  Mr.  Ballou  was  fondly 
attached,  and  often  visited  it  during  the  latter  years  of 
his  life,  in  company  with  his  children.  He  seemed  thrice 
happy  among  those  well-remembered  hills  and  dales, 
where  "  the  dreams  of  youth  came  back  again."  Aside 
from  the  fact  of  its  being  the  home  of  his  childhood,  which 
25* 


294  BIOGRAPHY. 

in  itself  will  strew  with  roses  the  bleakest  spot  in  Chris- 
tendom, the  valley  of  his  nativity  had  many  picturesque 
and  glowing  natural  beauties,  of  a  character  to  impress 
the  lover  of  nature  with  admiration.  Here  he  had  set  his 
snares  at  the  skirts  of  yonder  wood,  and  here  made  his 
morning  ablutions  in  the  clear  running  brook.  Adown 
the  crevices  of  this  huge  old  rock,  when  a  little  boy,  sur- 
feited with  the  abundance  of  wild  strawberries,  he  had 
pressed  out  their  juice,  and  adown  the  green  crevices  in 
the  mossy  stone  the  red  liquid  had  made  its  way.  These 
old  stumps,  now  decayed,  and  like  himself  passing  away, 
once  bore  the  orchard  fruit  that  he  had  watched  with 
anxious  eye  to  its  ripening.  And  this  mass  of  rocks,  this 
ruined  cellar,  is  the  only  remnant  left  of  the  cot  where 
he  was  born.  Not  a  stone  nor  a  tree  was  forgotten, — not 
one  but  brought  back  its  peculiar  legend  to  his  quick- 
ened heart.  And  here  was  the  old  burial-ground,  on  the 
hill-side,  where  the  dust  of  his  father  and  kindred  re- 
posed. With  what  awe  had  he  ever  looked  upon  that 
place  when  a  boy  !  How  many  times  strolled  thoughtfully 
among  the  rank  grass  and  moss-grown  slabs,  whose  gray 
old  forms,  now  bending  hither  and  thither  with  age,  gave 
faint  and  feeble  token  of  names  long,  long  since  passed 
away,— 

*'With  uncouth  rhymes  and  shapeless  sculpture  decked.'* 

While  on  a  visit  to  this  spot,  accompanied  by  his  second 
son,  Rev.  Massena  B.  Ballou,  in  1843,  he  lingered  long 
and  thoughtfully  among  the   tomb-stones,  and  at  last 


SPIRIT   OF   HIS   DOCTRINE.  295 

saicl :  — ^'  I  believe  I  could  sleep  sweeter  here,  among  the 
''  hills  of  Cheshire,  by  the  side  of  my  early  home  and 
"  kindred,  than  in  the  grounds  of  Mount  Auburn." 
And  this  was  in  truth  characteristic  of  him  and  of  his 
feelings,  as  the  reader  will  have  gathered  ere  this.  A 
retiring  spirit  governed  him  at  all  times,  unmoved  by  one 
single  prompting  of  ambition  or  a  desire  for  fame,  and 
only  zealous  in  the  service  of  his  Lord  and  Master.  His 
works  he  desired  to  leave  behind  him  as  perfect  as  might 
be,  because  he  hoped  that,  even  after  he  had  himself 
ceased  to  live,  they  might  be  productive  of  good  to  his 
fellow-men  ;  but  it  was  the  only  memento  he  wished  to 
leave  behind.  ''I  can  hardly  conceive  of  language,"  he 
says,  '^  to  express  the  flood  of  tender  emotions  that  over- 
"  flow  my  heart,  when  I  look  upon  that  valley  and  those 
"  well-remembered  hills.  I  seem  as  if  touched  by  some 
"  potent  wand,  and  to  be  changed  from  age  to  youth 
"  again.  It  becomes  impossible  to  realize  the  crowd  of 
"  incidents  and  experiences  that  have  thronged  my  path- 
"  way  for  more  than  half  a  century.  I  am  once  more  in 
"  that  frugal,  happy  home,  where  contentment  ever 
"  smiled  upon  us,  and  the  kind  words  of  my  brothers 
''  and  the  afiection  of  my  sisters,  more  than  compensated 
''  for  what  by  some  would  have  been  considered  not  an 
''  enviable  lot.  Though  that  cottage  is  now  levelled  by 
''  Time's  ruthless  hands,  yet  how  prominent  it  stands 
''  before  my  mind's  eye  !  That  aged  and  beloved  parent 
"  now  rests  on  yonder  hill-side.  Those  brothers  and  sis- 
"  ters. —  how  various  the  fortune  of  each  !     All,  all  have 


296  BIOGRAPHY. 

'^  now  passed  that  portal  to  which  my  own  footsteps  are 
"  steadily  wending."  He  was  often  inspired  to  pour  out 
his  feelings  in  song,  after  visiting  Richmond  and  the 
haunts  of  his  youth,  for  his  heart  was  full  of  the  memories 
of  those  days  that  had  endeared  the  spot  to  him.  The 
following  lines  upon  this  subject  were  composed  for  his 
children  to  sing  with  instrumental  accompaniment,  and 
are  written  in  the  metre  of  one  of  his  favorite  songs,  the 
air  of  "  Dumbarton's  Bonny  Belle." 

BALLOU'S  DELL. 

**  There  are  no  hills  in  Hampshire  New, 

No  valleys  half  so  fair, 
As  those  which  spread  before  the  view 

In  merry  Richmond,  where 
I  first  my  mortal  race  began. 

And  passed  my  youthful  days,  — 
Where  first  I  saw  the  golden  sun. 

And  felt  his  warming  rays. 

There  is  no  spot  in  Richmond  where 

Fond  memory  loves  to  dwell, 
As  on  the  glebe  outspreading  there 

In  Ballou's  blithesome  dell. 
There  are  no  birds  that  sing  so  sweet 

As  those  upon  the  spray, 
Where,  from  the  brow  of  *  Grassy  Hill,* 

Comes  forth  the  morning  ray. 

Unnumbered  flowers,  the  pride  of  spring. 

Are  born  to  flourish  there, 
And  round  them  mellow  odors  fling 

Through  all  the  ambient  air. 


SPIRIT   OF   HIS   DOCTRINE.  297 

There  purling  springs  have  charms  for  me 

That  vulgar  brooks  ne'er  give, 
And  winds  breathe  sweeter  down  the  lea 

Than  where  magnolias  live!  " 

This  is  but  one  of  a  large  number  of  pieces  composed 
bj  Mr.  Ballou  while  inspired  bj  the  same  theme.  It  will 
serve  to  show  the  reader  the  hallowed  and  inspiring  feel- 
ings that  lived  in  the  writer's  heart,  as  his  memory  went 
back  in  freshness  to  the  days  and  associations  of  his  boy- 
hood, as  in  retrospection  he  shook  away  the  snow  of 
time  from  the  evergreen  of  memory. 

The  attachment  to  one's  birth-place,  to  the  home  of 
early  youth,  "be  it  ever  so  humble,"  is  a  beautiful  trait 
of  character,  and  is  significant  of  a  refined  and  noble 
spirit.  It  is  in  masses  one  of  the  first  and  most  prolific 
fruits  of  civilization,  distinguishing  a  stable  community 
from  a  nomadic  tribe;  and,  as  another  peculiarity  of  the 
trait,  it  is  most  touchingly  exhibited  in  the  least  fortunate 
members  of  the  human  family.  The  Icelanders,  dwelling 
in  a  hyperborean  region,  where  for  a  large  portion  of  the 
year  they  are  deprived  of  the  light  of  the  sun,  and 
depend  upon  the  stars  and  the  Aurora  Borealis  to  guide 
their  footsteps  in  the  long,  long  winter  midnight,  are 
accustomed  to  say,  with  a  spirit  of  unmistakable  fond- 
ness and  afiection,  Iceland  is  the  fairest  country  of  the 
globe !  The  poor  Highlander  regards  the  smoky  hut 
where  he  was  born  with  enthusiastic  love.  As  life  draws 
gradually  towards  its  close,  this  feeling  deepens  in  the 
human  breast.     Standing  on  the  extreme  verge  of  exist- 


298  BIOGRAPHY. 

ence,  and  just  about  to  leave  the  world  forever,  man,  aa 
he  turns  to  survey  the  pathway  he  has  travelled,  over- 
looks its  midway  stations,  and  fixes  his  eyes  upon  the 
starting.  The  beginning  and  the  end  of  the  journey  are 
then  brought  close  together;  from  the  earthly  to  the 
eternal  home  there  is  but  one  step ;  from  the  tenderest 
recollections  of  his  earthly  parent  he  passes  into  the  pres- 
ence of  his  Father  in  heaven.  Love  of  home !  what  a 
theme  for  the  essayist ! 

It  would  almost  seem  as  if  the  deprivations  and  hard- 
ships of  his  youthful  days  must  have  thrown  an  unhappy 
spell  about  his  early  home,  and  as  though  the  memories 
that  came  up  to  him  from  the  long  vista  of  years  would 
be  laden  with  recollections  of  want  and  severe  trial,  of 
personal  endurance,  of  scanty  food  and  more  scanty  cloth- 
ing ;  in  short,  of  all  the  stern  realities  of  his  childhood's 
home.  But  this  was  very  far  from  being  the  case  with 
him.  He  has  often  said  to  us,  in  relation  to  this  subject, 
that  he  deemed  his  life  at  that  time  anything  but  unhappy, 
—  that  what  now  appeared  to  be  so  great  hardships,  by 
comparison,  were  then  but  trifling  discomforts,  and  matters 
of  course.  He  was  never  inclined  to  set  up  for  a  martyr, 
or  to  gather  any  credit  for  having  endured  patiently,  and 
risen  in  time  above  the  fortunes  of  his  youth.  He  could 
only  recall  this  period  of  his  life  with  feelings  of  pleasure. 
Such  feelings  as  these  force  upon  us  the  conviction  that 
there  is  ever  about  the  place  of  one's  birth  a  spell  that 
hardship  seems  only  the  more  closely  to  bind  about  the 
heart, —  that  deprivation  and  want  but  the  more  strongly 


SPIRIT   OF  HIS   DOCTRINE.  299 

cement.  The  cheerful  allusion  to  the  affectionate  regard 
of  his  brothers  and  sisters,  and  the  remark  that  content- 
ment ever  smiled  upon  his  early  home,  show  the  true 
spirit  of  the  man,  and  the  natural  trait  which  ever  influ- 
enced him  to  make  the  best  of  everything. 

' '  How  I  used  to  cherish  a  kind  word  from  my  father, 
"  when  I  was  a  boy  !  "  says  Mr.  Ballou.  ^'  He  was  in 
'^  some  respects  an  austere  man ;  and  when  I  was  born, 
"  being  the  youngest  of  our  large  family,  he  had  got  to 
^'  be  advanced  in  years,  and  looked  with  a  more  serious 
*'  and  practical  eye  on  the  events  of  life  and  all  things 
*'  about  us.  He  was  Puritanic,  strictly  religious,  as  he 
*'  interpreted  the  meaning  of  that  word,  and  his  mind  was 
"  ever  engrossed  upon  serious  matters.  But  when  he  put 
''  his  hand  sometimes  upon  my  head,  and  told  me  I  had 
"done  well,  that  the  labor  I  had  performed  might  have 
"  been  more  poorly  done  by  older  hands,  or  that  I  was  a 
"  good  and  faithful  boy,  my  heart  was  electrified  beyond 
"  measure ;  and  I  remember  his  words  and  smile,  even 
"  now,  with  delight." 

How  the  simplicity  and  purity  of  the  man  shine  forth 
in  this  little  paragraph  ! 

"  It  may  be  interesting  to  your  readers  to  know  how 
"  Father  Ballou  was  regarded  in  the  town  of  his  nativ- 
*' ity,"  says  the  Rev.  Joshua  Britton,  Jr.,  of  Richmond, 
N.  H.,  in  a  communication  addressed  to  the  Christian 
Freeman.  "  He  was  accustomed  to  visit  this  place  once 
"in  every  few  years,  and  always  received  a  cordial  and 
"  hearty  greeting.     It  was  my  privilege  and  happiness  to 


300  BIOGRAPHY. 

'  spend  a  few  days  with  him  on  the  occasion  of  his  visit 
'  here  in  October  last.  I  removed  to  this  town  in  Octo- 
'  her,  1850,  and  soon  learned  that  there  was  a  general 
'  desire  among  our  friends  to  see  and  hear  their  fellow- 
'  townsman  again.  The  approacli  of  cold  weather  pre- 
'  vented  our  taking  any  immediate  steps  to  accomplish 
'  this  object.  In  June,  1851,  I  saw  him  at  the  meeting 
'  of  the  State  Convention  in  Chicopee.  He  had  many 
'  affectionate  inquiries  to  make  respecting  his  friends  in 
'  Richmond,  but  then  he  could  not  name  any  time  when 
'  he  would  visit  us.  In  July  I  wrote  him,  and  he  replied 
'  August  5,  and  said  : — '  I  want  very  much  to  visit  Rich- 
'  mond,  and  will  on  one  of  the  days  you  have  named.' 
'  He  suggested  that  we  could  complete  the  arrangement  at 
'  the  convention  meeting  in  Boston.  We  did  so,  and  fixed 
'  upon  Sunday,  October  12th,  as  the  day  when  he  would 
'  be  with  us.  He  was  careful  to  have  no  appointment  for 
'  the  following  Sunday,  in  order  that  he  might  remain 
'  in  this  vicinity.  He  was  met  at  Fitzwilliam  depot,  by 
'  one  of  our  friends,  on  Friday,  October  10th,  and  con- 
'  veyed  to  his  residence.  Sunday  was  a  favorable  day  for 
'  meeting,  and  there  was  a  large  audience  from  this  and 
'  the  adjacent  towns  in  this  state  and  in  Massachusetts. 
'  It  was  a  happy  day  for  us  all;  but  I  must  not  dwell  here. 

"  Though  I  enjoyed  the  meeting  very  much,  yet  my 
'  enjoyment  was  still  greater  on  the  following  week,  in 
'  the  society  of  our  aged  friend  and  father,  at  my  own 
'  home  and  the  homes  of  our  mutual  friends  in  this  town. 

"  It  may  be  proper  to  state  that  Father  Ballou  had  no 


SPIRIT   OF   HIS   DOCTRINE.  S(flB 

''  very  near  relatives  here.  None,  I  believe,  by  the  name 
''  of  Ballou.  He  was  a  cousin  of  Father  Luke  Harris, 
*'  and  with  him  and  his  family  he  spent  a  portion  of  the 
"  time  quite  pleasantly.  He  seemed  happy  in  being  once 
"  more  in  his  '  native  Richmond.' 

"  Three  days  the  writer  accompanied  Father  Ballou 
'^  while  he  made  calls  upon  various  families  in  different 
"  parts  of  the  town.  We  were  uniformly  kindly  received ; 
*'  and  those  not  acquainted  with  Father  Ballou  can  hardly 
"  conceive  the  ease  and  success  with  which  he  familiarly 
"  approached  all, —  the  young,  the  middle-aged,  and  the 
"  aged.  We  had  brief  interviews,  but  they  were  agreeable 
"  and  profitable.  Prayer  was  offered  with  and  consolation 
"  afforded  to  the  sick.  In  one  or  two  instances  we  met  with 
"  those  whose  minds  were  in  doubt  on  doctrinal  points  : 
"  these,  of  course,  listened  to  a  few  words  of  explanation. 
"  Then  there  was  the  going  back  to  former  days,  and  a 
"  rehearsal  of  time's  numerous  changes.  We  visited  the 
"  old  burying-ground,  and  stood  by  the  graves  of  the 
"parents  of  my  aged  companion.  We  visited  the  old 
"  homestead,  the  place  where  he  was  born,  and  spent  his 
"  boyhood.  This  was  changed,  and  unchanged.  The 
"  buildings,  fences,  and  some  of  the  fields,  presented  a 
"  new  aspect,  but  the  valleys  and  hills  remained  as  before. 
''  At  the  homestead  we  entered  the  orchard,  where  the 
''  owner  was  engaged  picking  apples.  We  walked  about 
"  and  found  apples,  of  which  my  companion  ate.  though 
"  he  declined  taking  any,  a  short  time  previous,  on  an 
'^  adjoining  farm.  We  also,  by  invitation,  dined  here,  and 
26 


302  BIOGRAPHY. 

'  had  a  pleasant  chat  with  the  family.  This  farm  is  a 
'  mile  and  a  half  east  of  our  meeting-house.  Grassy 
'  Hill  is  on  its  eastern  border,  and  overlooks  the  valley 
'  in  which  it  is  situated.  Some  will  recollect  the  poetry 
'  of  our  friend,  '  My  native  Richmond.'  He  repeated 
'  this,  at  my  suggestion,  at  a  dweUing  in  full  view  of  this 
'  eminence  ;  and  as  the  words  '  Grassy  Hill'  were  spoken, 
'  he  gracefully  waved  his  right  hand  in  that  direction, 
•  his  countenance  expressing  satisfaction  and  delight. 

''  Several  times,  during  his  stay,  the  inquiry  was 
'  agitated, —  'Will  you  come  to  Richmond  again  7 '  His 
'reply  was,  "Tis  uncertain, —  I  may;  should  hfe  be 
'  spared,  and  my  health  remain  as  good  as  it  is  at  pres- 
'  ent,  I  think  I  may.'  But,  as  we  had  some  reason  to 
'  expect,  this  proved  to  be  his  last  visit  He  was  con- 
'  veyed  to  Winchester  on  Friday,  where  he  preached  on 
'  the  following  Sabbath.  He  returned  on  Tuesday,  Oct. 
'  21st.  I  made  a  few  calls  with  him  on  the  afternoon  of 
'  that  day,  and  in  the  evening  he  spent  an  hour  at  our 
'  singing-school,  tarrying  with  us  at  night.  On  the  fol- 
'  lowing  morning  we  bade  him  '  good-by,'  and  he  pro- 
'  ceeded  homewards  to  visit  a  daughter,  rejoined  his  wife, 
'  and  in  due  time  reached  their  home  in  Boston." 

In  Mr.  Ballou's  letter  to  the  Trumpet,  describing  this 
visit,  he  says  :  — 

"When  I  arrived  at  the  depot  in  Fitzwilliam,  I  was 
"  met  by  a  worthy  and  respected  friend,  from  Richmond, 
"  who  came  on  purpose  to  convey  me  to  his  hospitable 
"  dwelling  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  place  of  my  bkth. 


SPIRIT   OF   HIS   DOCTRINE.  303 

''  Our  roa,d  passed  through  the  farm  on  which  I  was  born, 
*'  and  on  which  my  childhood  and  youth  were  spent.  All 
*'  around  lay  the  hills  and  the  mountains,  the  valleys  and 
"  streams,  which  I  always  carry  with  me  on  the  map  of 
"  fond  memory.  But  where  were  the  father,  the  mother, 
"  the  brothers  and  sisters,  who  watched  over  my  infancy 
''and  guided  my  youth?  The  hope  of  the  gospel  an- 
"  swers,  in  Heaven  !  Before  the  Sabbath,  I  was  con- 
"  veyed  by  our  worthy  Brother  Britton,  the  beloved  pas- 
"  tor  of  the  Universalist  society,  to  the  dwellings  of  a 
"  number  of  my  kindred  and  friends,  who  received  me 
*'  with  a  welcome  corresponding  with  the  esteem  in  which 
"  they  were  held  by  me.  But  some  bitter  drops  were 
"  mingled  with  the  sweet  cordials  of  friendship  and  love. 
"  Some  deaths  had  recently  removed  the  beloved  and 
"  respected,  causing  those  sanctifying  sorrows  to  which 
"  love  and  friendship  are  heirs.  When  the  Sabbath 
"came,  I  was  conducted  by  Bro.  Britton  to  the  house 
"of  devotion,  and  into  the  pulpit  where  he  is  wont  to 
"  break  the  bread  of  life  to  the  flock  of  his  charge.  I 
"  was  agreeably  surprised  at  beholding  the  crowded  con- 
"  gregation,  which  filled  the  house  to  its  utmost  capacity 
"  with  people,  who  came  not  only  from  all  parts  of  Rich- 
"  mond.  but  from  all  the  adjoining  towns.  *  -^  *  * 
"  When  I  beheld  this  large  assembly,  all  of  which  seemed 
"  to  be  moved  with  one  spirit,  every  countenance  present- 
"ing  the  same  expression  of  desire  and  expectation,  I 
"  felt  oppressed  with  a  sense  of  my  weakness,  and  lifted 
"  my  desires  to  Him  who  is  able  to  strengthen  the  weak, 


304  BIOGRAPHY. 

'  and  from  what  seems  a  scanty  portion  to  feed  the  mul- 
'  titude. 

"  I  could  not  avoid  a  comparison  between  what  I  then 
'  saw  with  the  condition  of  the  cause  of  divine  truth 
'  sixty  years  ago,  when  I  first  attempted  to  speak  in  its 
'  defence  in  a  private  dwelling  in  this  Richmond.  Then, 
'  but  a  few  could  be  collected  to  hear  the  impartial  and 
'  efficient  grace  of  the  Redeemer  proclaimed  and  de- 
'  fended. 

"  The  Universalist  meeting-house  in  Richmond  is  quite 
'  respectable  for  size,  conveniently  constructed,  and  neat 
'  in  appearance.  The  society  who  worship  here  is  not 
'  very  numerous,  yet  I  beheve  more  so  than  that  of  any 
'  other  denomination  in  town.  As  far  as  my  acquaint- 
'  ance  enabled  me  to  judge,  I  had  reason  to  beheve  that 
'  better  disposed  disciples  of  the  Divine  Master  are  sel- 
'  dom  found.  Bro.  Britton  preaches  here  one-half  of  his 
'  time.  He  is  a  sober,  candid,  well-educated  and  faith- 
'  ful  pastor,  and  highly  esteemed  by  his  society  here,  and 
'  also  in  Winchester,  where  he  labors  successfully  the 
'  other  half  of  his  time.  His  family  consists  of  an  amia- 
'  ble  companion,  who  knows  the  importance  of  her  station, 
'  and  is  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  its  duties,  and  an 
'  adopted  daughter,  who  is  justly  held  in  high  esteem  both 
'  by  those  whom  she  regards  as  her  parents,  and  by  all 
'  her  acquaintances. 

"  The  Sabbath  following  my  appointment  in  Richmond, 
'  which  appointment  was  on  the  second  Sabbath  in  Octo- 
'  her,  I  preached  in  Winchester.     The  day  was  extremely 


SPIRIT    OF   HIS   DOCTRINE.  305 

"  rainy  and  cold,  and  few  comparatively  attended  meet- 
"  ing.  The  society  here  has  a  very  good  and  convenient 
"  house,  and  its  condition  at  present  is  said  to  be  prom- 
"  ising.  The  friends  of  truth  here  are  firm  and  steadfast, 
"  full  of  hope  and  confidence,  promising  perseverance  unto 
''  the  end. 

''After  my  labors  on  this  rainy  Sabbath,  I  found  my- 
"  self  much  exhausted,  and  was  sensibly  unwell.  My 
*' friends  were  kind  and  attentive  to  me,  and  the  worn-out 
*'  servant  was  well  provided  for.  On  Wednesday  a 
' '  respectable  merchant  of  Richmond  brought  me  in  his 
''  carriage  to  the  depot  in  Fitzwilliam.  By  aid  of  Di- 
"  vine  Providence  I  arrived  the  same  day  at  Lancaster, 
''where  I  found  my  wife  and  our  family  connections  in 
"  good  health,  and  my  own  somewhat  improved.  Thanks 
"  be  to  God  for  all  his  mercies  ! 

"HosEA  Ballou." 

With  other  numerous  calls  upon  his  time  and  atten- 
tion, and  in  addition  to  his  never-ceasing  professional  and 
parochial  labors,  Mr.  Ballou  has  had  at  various  times 
over  twenty  ministerial  students,  who,  for  the  time  being, 
generally  became  residents  of  his  family,  and  who  studied 
the  profession  with  him.  To  these  young  men  he 
devoted  his  powers  with  the  same  untiring  zeal  that  char- 
acterized his  other  professional  labors.  His  mode  of 
instruction  with  these  students  was  peculiar ;  he  went 
with  them  always,  to  use  one  of  his  favorite  phrases,  "  to 
the  root  of  the  matter,"  and  was  never  content  until  he 
26* 


306  BIOGRAPHY. 

had  imbued  their  minds  with  at  least  a  portion  of  the 
reahzing  sense  he  himself  experienced  relative  to  all  the 
main  points  of  the  faith  he  advocated.  His  words  of 
advice  to  them  were  few,  but  they  were  just  what  each 
one  needed,  and  no  more.  He  was  never  fulsome  with 
them,  but  complimented  when  it  was  deserved,  checked 
when  it  was  necessary,  and  suggested  when  improvements 
might  be  made,  but  ever  inculcating  those  Christian  qual- 
ities which  shone  forth  as  a  burnincr  lio-ht  in  his  own 
loveliness  of  character.  Nearly  all  of  those  students  are 
now  teachers  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  men  honored  for 
their  Christian  spirit,  and  as  true  disciples  of  the  gospel. 
Most  of  these  are  settled  in  the  New  England  States; 
and,  as  we  write,  we  easily  recall  the  names  of  numbers 
who  are  much  respected  and  beloved  by  the  denomination 
to  Avhich  they  belong. 

In  the  instruction  and  guidance  of  so  large  a  number 
of  candidates  for  the  sacred  calling  of  the  ministry,  he 
assumed  a  very  weighty  addition  to  his  constant  labors. 
We  have  seen  that  his  parochial,  ministerial,  scholastic 
and  editorial  duties,  were  exceedingly  onerous,  and  many 
would  have  shrunk  from  the  idea  of  adding  to  such  an 
accumulation  of  labors.  But  it  was  a  principle  of  Mr. 
Ballou's  life  never  to  neglect  a  single  opportunity  of 
serving  the  great  and  sacred  cause  in  which  he  had 
embarked ;  he  felt  the  full  force  of  his  mission,  and  to  it 
he  was  constantly  ready  to  devote  every  energy  of  his 
physical  and  mental  nature,  every  moment  of  his  time, 
looking  to  the  source  of  all  power  for  the  strength  and 


SPIRIT   OP   HIS   DOCTRINE.  307 

inspiration  necessary  to  sustain  him  in  his  task.  Among 
those  who  felt  a  vocation  to  preach  the  word  of  God,  there 
was  an  earnest  desire  to  pursue  its  study  under  the  guid- 
ance of  one  who  was  the  father  and  oracle  of  the  creed 
they  had  espoused.  They  felt  that,  transmitted  through 
other  mediums,  many  of  the  rays  of  light  that  beamed 
from  his  original  mind  must  necessarily  be  lost;  they 
sought  to  derive  directly  from  him  the  clear  instructions, 
the  vigorous  reasoning,  the  straight-forward  mode  of 
investigation,  w^hich  distinguished  him.  They  wished  to 
be  near  him,  to  follow  his  example  in  everything  pertain- 
ing to  a  Christian's  duty.  As  to  himself,  he  was  never 
so  happy  as  when  imparting  instruction  to  those  who 
really  desired  and  sought  it.  His  inquiring  and  intelli- 
gent spirit  constantly  sympathized  with  minds  of  kindred 
stamp,  nor  did  he  ever  lose  his  warm  sympathies  for 
youth.  With  the  motto  progi^ess  inscribed  upon  his 
banner,  he  was  at  heart  and  in  soul  as  much  with  the 
young  as  the  hoary-headed.  The  child-like  simplicity  of 
his  nature  brought  ardent  youth  very  near  to  his  vigorous 
and  green  old  age,  harmonizing  the  two  extremes  in  a 
"wonderful  manner. 

In  biographical  writing  there  is  often  an  obvious  and 
studied  obscurity  in  regard  to  some  certain  portion  of  the 
subject's  life.  The  reason  for  such  a  course,  on  the  part 
of  the  author,  is  very  plain ;  for  there  are  few  public  men, 
who  are  deemed  worthy  the  notice  of  a  biographical  record, 
who  do  not  look  back  with  regret,  and  often  with  deep 
mortification,  to  some  heedless  act  of  early  Hfe ;  —  some 


308  BIOGRAPHY. 

deed  wherein  the  laws  of  right  and  wrong  have  been  disre- 
garded, and  honorable  and  upright  principles  trampled 
under  foot ;  some  thoughtless  moment,  when  the  tempter 
has  found  them  with  their  armor  off,  and  has  led  them 
into  contact  with  evil  that  has  pierced  their  defenceless 
bodies,  and  left  there  scars  deep  and  rankling,  as  monu- 
ments of  the  frailty  of  their  nature.  In  reference  to  this 
subject  as  it  relates  to  Mr.  Ballou,  there  is  not  one  hour 
of  his  life  which  will  not  bear  the  scrutiny  of  strict  justice. 
From  his  very  boyhood  he  was  remarkable  for  firmness  of 
principle,  and  unwavering  integrity  of  purpose.  Had  he 
a  personal  enemy  in  the  world,  that  person  could  not 
point  to  a  single  act  of  his  life  that  it  would  not  give  us 
pleasure  to  chronicle  here  ! 

We  know  that  this  is  saying  much,  and  that  the  reader 
will  be  apt  to  look  back  and  re-read  the  last  passage; 
but,  while  we  write  this  strong  language,  we  wish  to  be 
understood  as  doing  so  in  all  calmness  and  judgment ; 
each  word,  as  written,  is  duly  set  down  and  abided  by. 
Now,  we  humbly  ask,  how  many  are  there,  among  those  to 
whom  the  world  accords  the  meed  of  greatness,  that  can 
have  this  language  applied  to  them  and  their  characters 
in  truth  'I  I  do  not  mean  to  signify  that  there  are  no 
such  men ;  but  to  say  —  and  the  experience  and  personal 
knovfledge  of  all  will  bear  testimony  to  the  fact  —  that 
such  cases  are  very  rarely  found  in  this  every-day  world. 

When  we  go  back  and  consider  Mr.  Ballou' s  early  life, 
the  very  limited  means  he  enjoyed  of  mental  cultivation, 
and  all  the  vicissitudes  through  which  he  has  passed,  and 


SPIRIT   OF  HIS  DOCTRINE.  309 

contrast  this  view  of  his  life  with  the  station  which  he 
ultimately  filled,  and  consider  the  works  of  his  pen  and 
mind,  we  are  led  to  remember  that  it  has  ever  been  the 
fate  of  genius  to  climb  the  rugged  steeps  of  fame  and 
honor  under  the  greatest  disadvantages ;  that  the  bright- 
est gems  the  exploring  mind  has  brought  from  the  caves 
of  knowledge  have  been  wrought,  before  they  were  given 
to  the  world,  with  the  poorest  means,  and  the  least  avail- 
able tools.  It  is  the  circumstance  of  those  very  disad- 
vantages that  has  elicited  more  mental  diamonds  than  all 
the  schools  and  richly-endowed  institutions  in  the  world. 

Though  the  difficulties  and  impediments  that  thus 
environ  the  path  of  genius  seem  like  a  heavy  stone  about 
the  neck,  yet  they  are  very  often  like  the  stones  used  by 
the  hardy  pearl-divers,  which  enable  them  to  reach  their 
prize,  and  to  rise  enriched.  Adversity  is  to  genius  what 
the  steel  is  to  the  flint, —  the  fire  concealed  in  the  one  is 
brought  out  only  by  contact  with  the  other.  "  Hard  is  the 
"  task,"  says  Coleridge,  "to  cHmb  into  the  niches  of  Fame's 
' '  proud  temple  ;  rough  and  cold  is  the  road ;  but  rougher 
*'  and  stronger  than  the  rocks  that  strew  it  are  the  men 
"  who  toil  over  it.  Up  they  climb  from  the  cottages  and 
''  lowly  homes  of  the  world  ;  over  Alps  and  Alps  do  they 
*'  stride,  heaving  the  millstone  of  persecution  from  their 
*'  towering  heads,  and  bursting  into  the  sunshine  of  glory, 
''  despite  of  all  that  circumstances  could  do  to  keep  them 
"down." 

The  experience  of  all  mankind  shows  that  nothing  great 
can  be  accomphshed  without  labor.    The  original  difierence 


310  BIOGRAPHY. 

between  men  who  have  achieved  greatness,  and  those  who 
have  died  in  obscurity,  is,  perhaps,  after  all,  very  incon- 
siderable ;  but  the  same  ideas  which  in  the  latter  died  in 
their  birth  for  want  of  culture',  in  the  former,  fostered, 
sustained  and  developed,  by  assiduous  labor,  flourished,  and 
produced  both  flower  and  fruit.  Uncultivated  genius  is 
a  melancholy  spectacle ;  it  is  like  the  light  of  a  shooting 
star,  brilliant,  flashing,  but  evanescent,  dazzling  the  eye 
for  a  moment,  and  then  sinking  into  outer  darkness; 
while  cultivated  genius,  blazing  with  a  steady,  constant 
and  pure  flame,  dispenses  a  surer  and  vivifying  warmth 
far  around  it,  —  its  light  is  not  that  of  the  meteor,  but 
the  planet.  All  history  and  all  experience  go  to  show 
that  the  bane  of  genius  is  not  adversity,  but  prosperity. 
It  was  not  Alpine  toils,  but  "  Capuan  delights,"  that 
decimated  the  ranks  of  Hannibal's  army,  and  wasted  them 
away ;  it  is  not  the  cold  north  wind,  but  the  genial  sun- 
shine, that  destroys  the  mighty  avalanche.  The  soul  of 
genius,  like  the  iron  of  the  mine,  must  undergo  the  ordeal 
of  fire,  ere  it  can  become  steel.  We  might  quote  many 
examples  of  history  to  prove  that  this  is  a  universal  law 
of  our  nature.  It  is  true  that  some  have  achieved  great- 
ness when  their  worldly  circumstances  were  easy  and 
afiluent ;  but  in  such  cases  the  gift  of  genius  has  been 
accompanied  by  a  mental  organization  which  imposed 
internal  struggles,  and  hence  the  rule  may  be  said  to  be 
without  exceptions. 

Books,   thoughts,    deeds,    imperishable   memorials   of 
their  author,  so  laboriously  accomplished,  do  not  die  with 


SPIRIT   OF  HIS  DOCTRINE.  811 

the  body.  No  ;  a  thought  once  expressed  never  dies ;  — 
it  must  exert  its  influence,  and  be  the  pioneer  to  many 
more.  Like  the  gentle  ripple  upon  a  calm,  placid  lake, 
it  starts  upon  the  world  a  speck,  but  ceases  not  to  expand 
its  force  until  it  reaches  over  all  extent.  Man  does  not 
die  with  the  body ;  as  the  soul  shall  live  forever,  so  does 
the  influence  he  has  exerted  upon  society  live  after  him, 
and  by  that  influence  is  he  judged.  Is  not  this  thought  in 
itself  a  strong  incentive  to  virtue  and  well-doing  'I  What 
man  or  woman  is  there,  however  humble  be  their  sphere 
of  action,  but  desires  most  earnestly  to  leave  behind  a 
good  and  honored  name  ? 

An  ancient  maxim  avers  that  "  spoken  words  fly  away, 
but  written  ones  are  permanent."  But  modern  science 
teaches  us  that  no  sound  uttered  by  the  lips  of  man  is 
lost,  —  that  the  vibration  of  the  air  bears  it  onward  and 
onward,  through  all  time.  How  very  few  there  are  in  this 
world  whose  words,  written  and  spoken,  are  so  considered 
that  they  are  willing  to  have  them  consigned  to  immortal- 
ity !  How  few  whose  utterance  of  a  year  old  will  bear 
the  test  of  their  own  judgment !  There  are  moments  of 
existence,  generally  the  closing  ones,  when  all  our  words 
and  deeds  crowd  back  upon  the  memory  with  overwhelm- 
ing force.  There  are  records  of  men  in  seasons  of 
extreme  casualties,  who  have  testified  to  the  painful 
accuracy  of  memory  under  such  imminent  circumstances  ; 
and  there  are  few,  indeed,  who  so  shape  their  lives  as  to 
be  enabled  to  bear  with  equanimity  a  retrospective  glance 
on  the  panorama  of  their  existence.     So  to  have  lived 


812  BIOGRAPHY. 

that,  in  ceasing  to  live,  they  have  no  reason  to  blush  for 
their  existence,  as  it  regards  the  daily  duty  of  the  Chris- 
tian. —  Alas !  in  seasons  of  trial  and  temptation  this  duty 
is  often,  very  often,  forgotten;  the  wayside  of  life  is 
strewn  thick  with  temptations  and  alKirements  to  win  us 
from  the  straight  and  narrow  path.  Fruits  of  golden 
promise  tempt  the  hand  to  pluck  them,  and  it  is  only 
after  tasting  that  we  discover  them  to  be  only  dust  and 
ashes,  like  those  which  grow  on  the  fated  shores  of  the 
Dead  Sea.  Happy,  then,  and  worthy  of  all  reverence,  is 
he  whose  unwaverinn;  course  throuo-h  life  has  ever  been 
onward  and  upward.  The  summit  gained,  whence  both 
the  promised  land  and  that  of  his  earthly  pilgrimage  are 
in  view,  he  can  turn  back  and  say,  as  his  vision  embraces 
the  line  which  his  feet  have  trod  so  toilsomely,  yet  ever 
so  cheerfully:  —  "I  have  held  that  path  without  varia- 
"tion;  no  temptation  has  seduced  my  footsteps  to  the 
''  right  or  to  the  left,  nor  have  my  lips  uttered  aught 
"  upon  that  journey  which  a  wish,  in  this  trying  moment, 
''would  recall!" 

There  have  been,  at  various  times,  and  in  different 
works,  short  biographical  sketches  of  Mr.  Ballou's  life 
given,  from  various  pens ;  —  these,  of  course,  contemplate 
only  his  public  career,  and  are  quite  brief  In  the  third 
volume  of  the  Universalist  Miscellany,  published  in  1846, 
there  appear  the  following  remarks  from  the  pen  of  the 
editor,  which  we  subjoin.  After  giving  a  short  account 
of  his  public  career,  the  writer  of  the  sketch  referred  to 
goes  on  to  say :  — 


SPIRIT   OF   HIS   DOCTRINE.  313 

"  We  have  not  time,  even  if  we  had  the  abihty,  to  give 

*  a  just  description  of  him  as  a  man,  a  Christian,  and  a 
'  preacher.     We  will  not,  however,  permit  the  occasion 

*  to  pass  without  offering  a  word  on  each  of  these  points. 

''  We  presume  no  one  was  ever  more  highly  beloved 

*  and  truly  respected  by  his  acquaintances  than  Mr. 
'  Ballou.  Pleasant  in  his  disposition,  and  honest  in  his 
'  dealings,  he  has  uniformly  enjoyed  their  confidence  and 
'  esteem.  Though  he  always  sustains  a  becoming  dignity 
'  of  character,  and  is  never  light  or  trifling,  he  has  a 
'  pleasantry  and  shrewdness  which  render  his  company 
'  peculiarly  agreeable. 

"As  a  Christian,  Mr.  Ballou  is  firm  in  faith,  and 
'  catholic  in  spirit.  While  he  believes  with  midoubting 
'  confidence  what  he  preaches,  and  has  no  respect  for 
'  what  he  considers  error  in  doctrine,  he  never  manifests 
'  a  want  of  kindness  towards  those  of  an  opposite  fiiith. 
'  We  are  aware  that  many  entertain  a  different  feeling  ; 
'  but  they  misjudge  him.  It  is  true  that  for  the  insincere 
'  and  hypocritical  he  has  no  feeling ;  and,  if  he  had,  he 
'  would  not  be  faithful  to  his  ministry. 

''  As  a  preacher,  Mr.  Ballou,  for  clearness  of  concep- 
'  tion  and  power  of  argument,  has  few,  if  any,  superiors. 
'  We  have  often  heard  him  preach  with  "an  unction  and 
'  power  that  we  have  never  heard  surpassed.  But  we  do 
'  not  design,  in  this  article,  to  speak  at  length  of  his 

*  qualities  as  a  preacher. 

"  No  man  ever  enjoyed  the  respect  of  our  denomination 
*'  more  than  does  ^Mi*.  Ballou.     He  is  cordially  loved  and 
27 


314  BIOGRAPHY. 

"  esteemed  by  all  who  believe  in  the  salvation  of  the 
''world." 

These  remarks  are  valued  the  more  highly  as  coming 
from  one  who  was  intimate  with  the  subject  of  this  biog- 
raphy for  a  long  period,  and  also  as  a  fair  and  unpreju- 
diced tribute  to  his  character  and  life  by  a  brother-laborer 
in  the  vineyard  of  Christ.  The  number  of  the  Miscellany 
which  contains  the  remarks  we  have  quoted  is  embellished 
by  a  mezzotint  likeness  of  Mr.  Ballou,  from  a  painting  by 
E.  H.  Conant,  and  engraved  in  the  finest  style  of  art  by 
Sartain.  This  picture,  however,  is  inferior,  as  to  likeness, 
to  many  others  which  are  preserved  of  him. 

We  conceive  the  following,  from  the  pen  of  the  venera- 
ble and  beloved  Father  Streeter,  the  oldest  minister  in 
the  Universalist  denomination  now  among  us,  to  be  of 
great  interest ;  the  work  in  hand  would  be  quite  incom- 
plete without  it.  It  is  the  impression  of  a  faithful 
brother  concerning  the  deceased,  from  the  commencement 
to  the  close  of  his  professional  career. 


"I  first  saw  Father  Ballou  a  short  time  before  the 
commencement  of  his  public  ministry.  It  was  in  the 
town  of  Vernon,  then  called  Hinsdale,  in  the  State  of 
Vermont.  At  that  time  there  was  but  one  open  and 
decided  Universalist  in  the  place.  This  solitary  cham- 
pion of  the  common  salvation  had  long  been  impressed 
with  a  desire  to  have  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God,  in 
the  fulness  of  its  universality,  preached  to  those  of  his 
neii^libors  who  might  feel  disposed  to  give  it  a  hearing. 


SPIRIT   OF  HIS  DOCTRINE.  315 

An  arrangement  was  at  length  made  with  the  Rev. 

David  Ballou,  an  elder  brother,  to  deliver  a  lecture  in 
'  the  place. 

"  The  day  was  designated,  and  due  notice  of  the  meet- 
'  ing  given.  At  the  appointed  time  the  preacher  came, 
'  and  Hosea  came  with  him.  He  was  then  a  tall,  slim 
'  young  man,  with  an  aspect,  however,  which  indicated 
'  profound  thought,  and  a  deep  solemnity  of  feeling.  In 
'  his  general  appearance  there  was  a  marked  peculiarity, 
'  a  certain  something  which  arrested  and  fixed  the  atten- 
'  tion,  and  which  impressed  the  beholder  with  the  con- 
'  viction  that  no  ordinary  individual  was  before  him, — • 
'  that  the  germs  of  eminence,  the  genuine  elements  of 
'  intellectual  greatness,  were  embodied  within  him. 

"  Such,  at  any  rate,  was  the  impression  among  the 
'  more  inquisitive  and  discriminating  who  attended  that 
'  meeting.  At  the  close  of  the  sermon,  Hosea  gave  an 
'  exhortation,  and  offered  the  concluding  prayer ;  and 
'  this  effort  was  spoken  of,  especially  by  the  less  conserv- 
'  ative  and  bigoted,  as  one  of  rare  spirituality  and  power. 
'  It  became  the  topic  of  general  remark,  and  of  high 
'  encomium. 

"The  next  day,  if  I  mistake  not,  he  made  his  first 
'  attempt  as  a  preacher  of  the  everlasting  gospel,  as  a 
'  public  advocate  of  the  sublime  doctrine  of  the  salvation 
'  of  all  men  '  by  the  blood  of  the  cross.'  It  was,  as  I 
'  have  often  heard  him  say,  a  partial  failure.  The  exor- 
'  dium  went  off  very  well;  but,  as  he  proceeded  with  the 
'  discussion,  he  often  hesitated,  now  and  then  came  to  a 


316  '  BIOGRAPHY. 

''  pause,  and  was  finally  obliged  to  sit  down  before  he  had 
"  reached  the  original  design  of  the  discourse. 

' '  He  was  deeply  mortified.  He  was  discouraged.  He 
"  resolved  to  abandon  all  thoughts  of  the  ministry.  He 
"  felt  himself  utterly  incompetent  to  the  efficient  dis- 
"  charge  of  its  high  and  momentous  duties.  His  friends, 
''  however,  interfered  in  the  premises.  They  succeeded 
"  in  changing  his  purpose.  They  persuaded  him  to  per- 
''  severe  in  the  work  of  a  Christian  minister,  and  it  was 
"  not  long  before  he  made  his  second  attempt  at  sermon- 
''  izing.  The  efibrt  succeeded.  It  was  a  complete  tri- 
''  umph.  The  manner  in  which  he  acquitted  himself  was 
*'  a  matter  of  deep  astonishment  to  his  friends,  and  to  all 
''  who  heard  him.  In  that  meeting  his  lofty  and  invalua- 
''  ble  career  finds  its  legitimate  date.  It  was  followed  by 
''  no  faltering,  no  irresolution,  no  shrinking  from  toil, 
"  however  laborious,  or  however  wearing  to  the  physical 
''  frame  or  to  the  mental  powers. 

"  He  soon  became  immensely  popular.  His  fame  went 
^'  forth  as  on  the  wings  of  every  wind.  From  all  quar- 
^'  ters,  far  and  near,  the  Macedonian  cry,  'Come  over  and 
"  help  us,'  poured  in  upon  him.  These  calls,  so  far  as  it 
''  was  possibly  practicable,  were  promptly  and  cheerfully 
*'  honored.  His  labors,  of  course,  became  exceedingly 
"  abundant, —  almost,  indeed,  without  intermission.  By 
"  day  and  by  night  he  was  found  at  his  post,  and  zeal- 
"  ously  doing  his  great  work. 

"  He  frequently  held  meetings  in  the  town  where  he 
"  was  born  and  brought  up,  and  in  nearly  all  the  towns 


SPIRIT   OF  HIS   DOCTRINE.  317 

"  in  that  region.  His  circuits  often  embraced  some  hun- 
''  dreds  of  miles,  and  in  making  them  he  preached  almost 
*'  every  day,  and  not  unfrequently  several  times  in  a  day  ; 
'^  and  wherever  it  was  generally  known  that  he  was  to 
"  hold  forth,  immense  crowds  rarely  failed  to  be  present, 
"  that  they  might  listen  to  his  testimony.  Though  a 
'•'mere  youngster,  I  myself  once  w^alked,  or  rather  ran, 
"  eight  miles  and  back,  to  hear  him.  The  news  of  the 
"  meeting  did  not  reach  me  till  somewhat  late  on  Sabbath 
'"'  morning,  and  no  mode  of  conveyance  to  the  place  could 
''  be  obtained.  I  was,  of  course,  reduced  to  the  necessity 
''  of  either  losing  that  rare  spiritual  treat,  or  of  making 
''  my  way  to  it  on  what  Mr.  Murray  used  to  call  '  apos- 
"  tolical  horses; '  in  other  words,  on  foot.  And  so  great 
"  was  my  anxiety  not  to  lose  a  word  that  might  fall  from 
*'  his  lips,  that  I  forgot  to  take  with  me  a  crumb  of  any- 
"  thing  for  a  lunch,  and  so  I  lost  my  dinner;  or,  rather,  I 
"  had  to  make  it  on  the  sermon  and  the  prayers  which  I 
"  had  heard,  and  it  was  truly  one  of  the  most  luscious 
"  meals  which  it  has  ever  been  my  good  fortune  to  eat. 
"  It  was  devoured  with  a  high  relish. 

"The  subject  of  these  remarks  was  the  youngest  of 
"five  brothers,  three  of  whom  were  preachers;  and  I 
"  once  had  the  privilege  of  attending  a  meeting  at  which 
"  four  of  them,  with  the  venerable  father,  were  present. 
"  Hosea  was  the  preacher.  He  seemed  to  have  made 
"  special  preparation  to  meet  the  peculiarities  of  the 
"  occasion.  Contrary  to  his  usual  custom,  the  sermon 
*'  was  written.  At  the  proper  time  he  commenced  its 
27# 


818  BIOGRAPHY. 

"  delivery.  The  old  father — himself  a  Baptist  clergyman 
*'  of  considerable  note — and  the  elder  brothers,  were  seated 
"  around  him. 

"  He  was  not  familiar  with  the  use  of  a  manuscript, 
"  and,  of  course,  to  read  from  one  he  found  to  be  a  new 
''  and  somewhat  awkward  business.  For  a  little  time, 
''  however,  he  persevered  in  the  effort.  The  experiment 
"  was  far  from  being  satisfactory  either  to  himself  or  to 
"  the  congregation.  In  spite  of  him,  the  eye  would  quit 
"  its  hold  upon  the  contents  of  the  paper,  and  wander 
'^  about  among  the  dense  masses  who  filled  the  seats 
"  below.  These  excursions  caused  him  to  lose  his  place. 
"  He  often  found  it  again  with  no  little  difiiculty,  and 
"  sometimes  not  without  a  most  vexatious  delay. 

"At  length  his  patience  gave  out.  Its  power  of  en- 
"  durance  was  completely  exhausted,  and,  taking  up  the 
"  manuscript  and  rolling  it  between  his  hands,  he  deliber- 
"  ately  put  it  in  his  pocket.  'Brethren,'  said  he,  'I  shall 
"  weary  your  patience  with  these  notes.'  This  was  the 
"  end  of  all  hesitancy.  He  proceeded  in  the  discussion 
"  of  his  subject  with  his  accustomed  fluency,  and  every - 
"  thing  flowed  onward  with  the  smoothness  of  oil.  It  was 
*'  a  season  of  deep  and  thrilling  interest. 

"The  venerable  father,  though  not  a  Universalist,  and 
"  with  no  disposition  to  become  one,  listened  to  the  argu- 
"  ments  and  illustrations  of  this  youngest  of  his  sons  with 
"  the  profoundest  attention.  I  carefully  watched  the 
"  muscles  of  his  face,  and  plainly  saw  that  mighty  emo- 
"  tions  were  stirring  within  him.     Every  now  and  then  a 


SPIRIT   OF   HIS   DOCTRINE.  319' 

'  large  tear  would  start  out  from  the  eye,  and  course 
'  down  the  furrows  in  his  time-worn  and  manly  cheek. 
'  It  is  not  strange  that  such  should  have  been  the  case, 
'  for  the  discourse  was  one  of  peculiar  tenderness,  and  of 
'  uncommon  pathos  and  power.  Probably  it  was  rarely, 
'  if  ever  surpassed,  even  by  the  speaker  himself,  in  the 
'  palmiest  days  of  his  ministry. 

"Indeed,  Father  Ballou's  pulpit  powers  were  of  an 
'  exceedingly  high  order.  Taken  as  a  whole,  my  im- 
'  pression  is  that  I  have  never  known  his  equal.  Never 
'  have  I  seen  a  man  who  could  hold  his  hearers  so  per- 
'  fectly  under  his  own  control.  They  were  entirely  at 
'  his  command.  He  clothed  them  in  smiles,  or  melted 
'  them  to  tears,  and  these  things  he  seemed  to  do  at 
'  pleasure.  This  power  embodies  the  chief  component  in 
'  true  eloquence.  We  often  refer,  and  with  profound 
'  admiration,  to  the  pulpit  talents  of  Griffin  and  Beecher, 
'  of  Channing,  and  Dewey,  and  Chapin.  And  to  these 
'  men  the  meed  of  rare  eloquence  unquestionably  belongs ; 
'  but  still,  taken  all  in  all,  they  fall  far  below  the  stan- 
'  dard  of  Father  Ballou.  Theirs  is  an  eloquence  of  an- 
'  other  and  a  humbler  type.  They  deal  chiefly  with  the 
'  intellect, —  with  the  demands  of  a  literary  and  refined 
'  taste ;  he  dealt  more  especially  with  the  latent  chords 
'  of  the  heart, —  moved  and  controlled  the  deeper  sym- 
'  pathies   and  more  refined  affections  of  the  human  soul. 

*  Relying  but  little  upon  books,  he  went  principally  upon 
'  the  profundity  and  strength  of  his  own  resources.     The 

•  structure  of  his  mind  approached  very  near  to  an  actual 


320  BIOGRAPHY. 

'  intuition.  He  grasped  the  T\hole  of  a  subject  at  a 
'  glance.  His  powers  of  analysis  were  prodigious,  and 
'  singularly  accurate.  He  stopped  not  to  inquire  what 
'  others  had  thought  or  done.  He  examined  every  sub- 
'  ject  for  himself  Like  the  diver  for  pearls,  he  plunged 
'  to  the  depths  of  divine  truth ;  and,  when  he  had  found 
'  a  precious  gem,  he  rose  with  it  to  the  surface,  held  it 
'  up  before  the  eyes  of  the  people,  and  said  to  them.  This 
'  belongs  to  you,  and  there  are  more  of  the  same  sort 
'  where  I  found  it, —  enough  for  you  all,  and  for  the  mil- 
'  lions  of  the  race  to  which  you  belong. 

"But  it  was  not  in  the  oflBce  of  a  Christian  minister, 
'  merely,  that  Father  Ballou  excelled.  He  was  admira- 
'  ble  in  every  sphere  of  life.  As  a  husband  and  a  father, 
'  the  head  of  a  numerous  family,  he  was  truly  a  model 
'  man.  He  knew  how  to  rule  his  own  household.  His 
'  word  was  law,  and  obedience  to  it  was  prompt  and 
'  cheerful  by  all  around  him.  There  were  no  family  jars 
'  in  that  well-ordered  and  happy  home.  The  idea,  per- 
'  haps,  is  an  extravagant  one,  but  I  have  often  thought 
'  that  his  house  was  the  nearest  fac-simile  of  the  great 
'  mansion  of  the  Infinite  Father  on  High  of  which  I 
'  could  form  a  conception. 

"  And  then  as  a  brother  and  a  friend  he  had  no  supe- 
'  rior.  With  the  exception,  perhaps,  of  some  members 
'  of  his  own  family,  there  is  no  one  Hving  who  enjoyed  so 
'  long  and  so  intimate  an  acquaintance  with  him  as  my- 
'  self;  and  it  is  one  of  the  happiest  reflections  of  my  life, 


SPIRIT    OF   HIS   DOCTRINE.  821 

'  that,  in  all  our  intercourse,  not  a  single  unkind  word  or 
^  emotion  ever  passed  between  us. 

''  Indeed,  I  never  knew  his  kindly  regards  mastered 
'  but  once,  and  that  was  after  the  endurance  of  many 
'  gross  and  most  cruel  provocations.  But  on  one  occa- 
'  sion  his  philosophy  and  his  religion  failed  him,  and  then 
^  his  brow  was  mantled  with  the  very  majesty  of  wrath, 
'  the  frowning  aspect  of  a  deep  and  withering  indignation. 
'  The  roll  of  a  moment  or  two,  however,  and  it  was  all 
'  over.  The  old  saint  was  himself  again,  and  never,  from 
'  that  time  to  the  day  of  his  death,  did  I  ever  hear  him 
'  utter  an  unfriendly  word  in  relation  to  the  individual 
'  by  whom  he  had  been  so  grossly  and  wickedly  abused. 
'  But  I  must  not  enlarge.  I  have  no  wish  to  deal  in 
'  flattery;  but,  injustice  to  my  own  feelings,  and  to  the 
'  memory  of  our  departed  father,  I  must  say  that  he  was 
'  one  of  the  very  best  men  with  whom  it  has  been  my 
*  happiness  to  associate.  Indeed,  I  doubt  whether  he  had 
^a  solitary  failing, —  so  far,  I  mean,  as  the  convictions 
'  and  purposes  of  his  own  mind  were  concerned. 

"S.  S." 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

SENTIMENTS   RELATIVE   TO   DEATH. 

Mr.  Ballou  was  ever  governed  by  a  calm  resignation 
to  the  decrees  of  Providence,  and  as  it  regarded  the 
subject  of  his  own  death, —  that  thought  which  is  said  to 
make  cowards  of  us  all,  that  theme  upon  which  we  are 
too  much  inclined  to  dwell  with  feelings  of  dread  and  fear. 

Notwithstanding  we  are  taught  by  Christian  philoso- 
phers that  life  should  be  a  preparation  for  death,  there 
are  very  few  of  us  who  regard  this  inevitable  event  in  its 
proper  light.  Dr.  Young  uttered  a  most  profound  truth 
when  he  said :  — 

"  Each  man  thinks  all  men  mortal  but  himself." 

A  man  recognizes  the  certainty  of  this  event's  taking 
place  with  regard  to  his  neighbor,  his  friend,  and  the 
members  of  his  own  family.  He  feels  that  the  hour  of 
separation  from  his  aged  and  beloved  parents  must  come ; 
that  the  brother  or  sister,  whose  infant  joys  and  sorrows 
are  his  own,  whose  sympathy  has  cheered  his  manhood, 


SENTIMENTS   RELATIVE   TO    DEATH.  323 

must  one  day  be  taken  from  him ;  that  the  wife  of  his 
bosom  must  close  her  eyes  in  death ;  that  the  stern  mes- 
senger mayat  any  time  smite  the  darlings  of  their  little 
flock,  gathered  around  his  knee  in  play  or  prayer ;  and 
while  they  are  yet  in  life  he  prepares  for  them  the  last 
resting-place  in  some  sheltered  spot,  some  woodland  cem- 
etery, where  the  brightest  smile  of  nature  may  gild  the 
place  of  their  repose.  But  he  cannot  realize  that  he  him- 
self, in  the  pride  of  his  manhood,  the  blood  coursing 
cheerily  through  his  veins,  a  sense  of  vitality  giving  an 
elasticity  to  every  movement,  will  be  called  upon  to  lay 
down  this  glorious  panoply  of  life,  to  feel  the  bounding 
blood  curdle  and  become  as  ice  within  his  veins,  and  the 
bright  vision  of  the  world  fade  into  nothingness  before  his 
glazing  eyes.  He  himself,  by  some  miracle,  must  be 
snatched  from  the  universal  doom.  Thus  death  finds 
almost  every  man  unprepared.  The  very  criminal,  upon 
whose  ears  fall  the  deep  tones  of  the  funeral  knell,  hopes 
for  a  reprieve  even  at  the  foot  of  the  scaffold.  The  sol- 
dier cannot  think  of  death  as  he  mounts  the  "  imminent 
deadly  breach ; " — his  comrades  may  fall,  but  he  must 
escape.  Thus,  in  our  strange,  delusive  sophistry,  even  if 
we  think  of  death,  we  seek  to  ahenate  the  idea  from  our- 
selves. 

As  it  regarded  the  death  of  any  member  of  his  extensive 
family  circle,  what  a  tower  of  strength  and  consolation  he 
ever  was  to  the  mourning  hearts  of  his  children !  How 
calm  and  serene  he  would  appear  when  called,  in  the  provi- 
dence of  God,  to  sympathize  with  them  at  the  loss  of 


824  BIOGRAPHY. 

their  little  ones,  near  and  dear  to  their  parental  hearts  ! 
However  deep  the  distress  of  soul  -which  exercised  the 
breast  of  any  member  of  his  family  by  the  solemn  visita- 
tion of  death,  his  venerable  presence  would  always  restore 
peace  to  the  almost  broken  heart,  and  make  the  sunshine 
radiate  once  more  in  the  mourner's  bosom.  He  had  sev- 
eral trials,  and  keen  ones,  too,  through  which  he  passed, 
of  this  character.  His  third  daughter,  Mrs.  Whittemore, 
wife  of  Rev.  Benjamin  Whittemore,  was  called  upon  to 
lay  one  and  another  of  her  tender  offspring  in  the  grave, 
until,  at  last,  when  the  third  was  placed  there,  she  ex- 
claimed, in  the  agony  of  her  heart,  that  she  could  not 
leave  the  tomb  where  half  her  loved  ones  lay  in  death. 
But  for  his  presence  even  reason  might  have  deserted  her 
throne ;  but  his  calm  and  sainted  expression,  his  holy 
balm  of  religion,  his  simple  words  of  hope,  were  as  oil 
upon  troubled  waters.  So  again  was  he  similarly  exer- 
cised, through  visitations  of  death,  in  the  family  of  his 
eldest  son.  Rev.  Hosea  F.  Ballou,  and  Rev.  Massena  B. 
Ballou ;  in  the  family  circle  of  his  third  daughter,  Cassen- 
dana,  wife  of  Joseph  Wing ;  and  again  in  the  home  of  his 
fourth  daughter,  Elmina,  wife  of  Rev.  J.  C.  Waldo ;  and 
also  in  the  circle  of  the  sixth  daughter,  Fiducia,  wife  of 
Abijah  W.  Farrar. 

But  more  particularly  was  this  power  of  consolation 
evinced  as  exercised  in  his  own  family,  when  the  eldest 
daughter,  Fanny,  widow  of  Leonard  Holmes,  was  taken 
from  life.  It  was  the  first  death  that  we  had  known  in 
our  immediate  circle  of  brothers  and  sisters,  and  the  stroke 


SENTIMENTS   RELATIVE   TO    DEATH.  325 

had  all  the  power  and  force  of  a  first  great  sorrow.  Then 
his  spirit  shone  forth  in  all  the  Christian  beauty  and 
loveliness  of  its  influence.  Then  the  majesty  and  holy 
power  of  his  rehgion  was  evinced  in  letters  of  light.  And 
while  referring  to  this  family, —  for  there  were  six  orphan 
children  left  behind, —  we  might  appropriately  refer  to 
the  munificent  bounty  of  his  hand  towards  them ;  of  a 
home  purchased  and  given  to  them ;  and  of  much  fatherly 
kindness  and  generosity  towards  those  orphan  children. 
This  spirit  of  resignation  he  infused  largely  into  his  chil- 
dren, who  in  turn  offered  to  his  own  spirit  that  strength 
of  hope  and  divine  reliance  which  in  periods  of  trial  he 
had  imparted  to  them.  This  might  be  said  to  be  particu- 
larly the  case  with  Clementina,  his  fifth  daughter,  wife 
of  Isaac  H.  Wright,  who,  without  the  domestic  care  of 
a  family,  was  enabled  to  be  much  and  often  at  home, — 
especially  if  any  physical  illness  affected  either  father  or 
mother, —  and  who,  with  others  of  the  children,  was  with 
him  night  and  day,  constantly,  during  his  last  illness,  and 
the  closing  hours  of  his  life. 

We  have  before  referred  to  the  grateful  influence  his 
presence  exerted  in  the  sick  room,  and  when  called  upon 
to  lift  up  his  voice  with  the  dying ;  but  so  prominent  a 
trait  of  character,  as  evinced  in  his  home  relations,  should 
not  be  omitted  here.  It  may  be  interesting  to  remark,  in 
these  domestic  notes,  that  Mr.  Ballou  resided,  for  over 
thirty  years,  with  his  second  daughter,  Cassendana,  and 
her  family,  in  Boston.  A  more  cheerful  and  happy  home 
it  would  be  diflicult  for  fancy  to  paint.  There  was  no 
28 


326  BIOGRAPHY. 

contention  there, —  no  jealousies,  no  jarring  of  interests; 
everything  seemed  to  take  its  hue  from  him ;  and  calm 
domestic  joj  and  serene  contentment  reigned  over  all. 
He  seemed  to  exhale  the  atmosphere  of  peace,  and  no 
contending  elements  could  -withstand  the  soothing  char- 
acter of  his  presence. 

Mr.  Ballou's  idea  of  death,  as  being  but  the  portal  to 
blissful  immortality,  may  be  gathered  by  the  folloAving, 
from  his  own  pen : 

"  The  idea  of  immortality  makes  everything  in  life 
'  valuable.  Here  we  may  lay  up  all  our  treasures, 
'  where  neither  moth  nor  rust  can  corrupt,  nor  thieves 
'  break  through  and  steal.  Here  God's  bright  favor  will 
'  never  grow  dim,  nor  will  our  love  and  gratitude  ever 
'  decay.  Do  you  see  Hope's  celestial  form,  leaning  on 
'  her  anchor,  and,  while  the  raging  waves  of  a  restless  sea 
'  dash  against  her,  she  remains  unmoved  7  Do  you 
'  observe  her  aspect  firm,  and  her  eyes  turned  towards 
'  heaven  ?  And  would  you  wish  to  cast  her  down,  and 
'  wreck  her  on  the  quicksands  of  dismal  doubt  7  Go, 
'  brother,  to  the  chamber  of  sickness,  where  life's  waning 
'  embers  can  no  longer  warm  the  dying  heart ;  there  hear 
•  from  cold  and  quivering  lips  this  hope  expressed  :  '  I 
'  long  to  be  with  Christ, —  I  long  to  be  at  rest ! '  Would 
'  you  blast  this  amaranthine  flower  ?  Would  you  plant 
'  in  its  stead  the  nightshade  of  despair  7  Listen  no  longer 
'  to  the  wild  suggestions  of  fancy  and  wandering  imagin- 
'  ations,  under  the  specious  pretence  of  searching  after 
'  truth.     For  Jesus  is  the  way,  the  truth  and  the  life. 


SENTIMENTS   RELATIVE   TO    DEATH.  327 

*  Give  me  the  light  of  this  bright  sun  to  see  ; 
All  other  lights  like  meteoi'S  are  to  me.'  " 

"  I  think  one  thing  is  certain,"  says  Mr.  Ballou,  in  one 
of  his  last  published  articles,  "and  that  is,  that  the  opinion 
''that  we  immediately  enter  on  that  state  into  which 
"  the  resurrection  introduces  mankind  is  far  more  desir- 
''  able,  to  all  people,  than  the  opinion  that  ages  of  uncon- 
"scious  sleep  succeed  our  brief  existence  here  in  the 
"flesh.  =*  =^  =^  In  conclusion,  I  will  say  that  I  am  sensi- 
"  ble  that  there  are  passages  of  scripture  which  seem  to 
"  favor  the  opinion  of  a  general,  simultaneous  resurrection, 
"which  appear  difficult  to  reconcile  with  such  as  I  have 
"above  noticed;  but  that  they  outweigh  them  I  have  no 
"  sufficient  reason  to  allow.  The  supposition  that  all 
"who  have  died  have  until  now  remained  in  an  uncon- 
"scious  state,  seems  more  hke  annihilation  than  well 
"accords  with  our  glorious  hope." 

Mr.  Ballou" s  mind  was  ever  made  up  to  meet  death  at 
any  moment ;  and,  with  implicit  reliance  on  the  goodness 
and  fatherly  care  of  Him  in  whose  hand  we  all  are,  and 
w^ho  does  not  permit  even  a  sparrow  to  fall  to  the  ground 
without  his  knowledge,  he  left  all  to  the  wise  decree  of 
Heaven,  and  loaded  not  his  soul  with  fear  of  the  result. 
He  conversed  but  little  upon  the  subject ;  but  when  he 
did  so,  it  was  with  a  cheerful  spirit  and  contented  mind. 

His  profession  was  such  as  to  make  him  famihar  with 
death  in  all  its  forms.  It  was  no  strange  subject  to  him ; 
but,  on  the  contrary,  one  which  had  engaged  much  of  his 


328 


thouorlit  and  earnest  consideration.  With  so  full  and 
implicit  a  reliance  in  the  complete  sovereignty  of  the 
Almighty  as  his  religious  belief  imparted,  he  could  have 
no  fear  or  doubt  as  to  the  perfectness  of  the  decrees  of 
Providence.  He  literally  argued  everything  for  good, 
and  that  nothing  transpired  without  a  purpose  of  the 
Director  of  all  things  ;  and  in  that  purpose  he  recognized 
but  one  principle,  which  was  the  good  of  the  children  of 
men.  These  premises  once  established  in  his  mind,  what 
fear  could  he  possibly  entertain  of  death  ?  It  is  a  part 
of  the  Divine  economy, —  that  was  enough  for  him. 
Applied  to  any  dispensation  of  Providence,  or  to  tenets 
of  faith,  this  same  reliance  will  be  found  evinced  in  all 
his  ministrations  and  life.  He  says:  —  "We  have  ever 
"this  pleasing  reflection, —  this  sublime,  this  instructive 
"lesson, —  that  the  wisdom  which  constitutes  the  vast 
"  frame  of  the  universe,  and  which  organized  all  nature, 
"  —  the  power  that  raised  this  glorious  superstructure 
"upon  its  basis, —  has  ever  been  directed,  and  ever  will 
"  be  directed,  towards  the  good  and  benefit  of  mankind. 
"  That  there  can  be  no  such  thing  as  partiality,  or  any- 
"  thing  like  cruelty,  in  all  the  system  of  God,  as  the 
"  moral  governor  of  the  world,  is  as  plain  a  proposition  as 
"  can  possibly  be  stated.  There  is  not  in  the  bosom  of 
"  our  Father  in  Heaven  any  principle  but  goodness  to  his 
"  children.  There  is  not  in  the  bosom  of  our  Heavenly 
"  Father,  nor  can  there  be,  anything  like  cruelty  or  par- 
"  tiality ;  but  his  eternal  wisdom  is  ever  working  for  the 
"  benefit  of  his  creatures." 


SENTIMENTS  RELATIVE  TO  DEATH.       829 

He  held  the  grave  to  be  a  calm,  safe  anchorage  for  the 
shattered  hulls  of  men, —  the  portal  through  which  the 
spirit  passes  to  God  who  gave  it.  Concerning  this  sub- 
ject there  are  a  few  lines  from  his  pen  so  applicable  in 
this  connection,  that  we  cannot  refrain  from  transcribing 
them  here.  In  common  with  those  pieces  which  we  have 
already  given  the  reader,  there  is  no  eifort  at  grandeur  in 
the  piece ;  the  beauty  and  propriety  of  the  poem  is  undis- 
guised by  metaphor,  being  put  down  in  the  tender  and 
persuasive  language  of  a  Christian  heart,  pleading  for  the 
good  of  man,  and  the  honor  of  its  Maker.  Mr.  Ballou's 
poetical  productions  are  such  an  index  of  his  soul,  his  real 
character,  that  we  are  induced  again  to  refer  to  the  fact. 
They  are  ever  like  himself,  simple,  yet  forcible,  and  never 
without  a  purpose,  and  most  incontrovertible  argument, 
expressed  or  implied.  The  following  poem  was  written 
in  his  seventy-third  year,  and  is  entitled 

EEAR  NOT  DEATH. 

*'  Why  call  we  death  to  man  a  foe  ? 
Why  should  we  fear  to  die  ? 
Does  heavenly  wisdom  teach  us  so  ? 
Let  us  the  question  try. 

Is  he  of  independent  might  ? 

Does  he  himself  sustain  ? 
These  questions  if  we  answer  right. 

Will  make  our  subject  plain. 

See  ye  his  scythe,  his  dart,  his  spear? 

Who  placed  them  in  his  hand  ? 
Know  this,  and  give  the  winds  yotir  fear  ; 

Dauntless  before  him  stand. 

28* 


330  BIOGRAPHY. 

Death  is  a  messenger  of  God, 

And  God  is  love,  we  know  ; 
Nothing  can  come  from  him  but  good,  — 

No  enmity  can  flow. 

Death  only  comes  when  he  is  sent, 

Commissioned  from  on  high  ; 
And  all  his  weapons,  too,  are  lent,  — 

Why  fear  we,  then,  to  die  ? 

Dtath  comes,  a  friend  to  mortal  man. 

To  set  his  spirit  free  ; 
Nor  he,  nor  any  creature,  can 

Reverse  the  blest  decree. 

Had  death  on  us  an  evil  eye, 

Would  he  our  pains  remove. 
And  set  our  spirits  free  to  fly 

To  peaceful  realms  above? 

Teach  not  your  children,  parents  dear. 

To  dread  what  God  may  send  ; 
Nor  fill  their  tender  hearts  with  fear 

Of  Him  who  is  their  friend." 

There  is  a  lesson  here  that  it  would  be  well  for  us  to 
remember,  a  principle  that  should  be  planted  and  nur- 
tured in  our  breasts.  Death  has  been  too  long  looked 
upon  as  ''  the  great  enemj  of  our  race,"  while  it  is  in 
truth  but  the  calling  home  of  the  spirit  by  the  Great 
Shepherd.  'T  is  but  the  wedding  of  the  soul  with  Para- 
dise, the  starting  post  for  heaven.  These  were  the  sen- 
timents entertained  by  Mr.  Ballou,  and  which  governed 
his  mind  even  to  the  last. 

He  says,  relative  to  this  deeply  interesting  and  import- 


SENTIMENTS  RELATIVE  TO   DEATH.  381 

ant  subject  to  us  all: — "We  are  as  pilgrims  and 
"  strangers  on  earth,  as  were  all  our  fathers.  The 
"  places  which  now  know  us  will  shortly  know  us  no 
**  more.  How  reasonable,  then,  is  it,  that  we  should 
"  often  bring  this  great  truth  under  serious  consideration! 
"  If  duly  considered,  it  will  exert  a  favorable  influence  in 
"  relation  to  the  estimates  we  may  make  of  all  temporal 
"  things,  and  give  a  favorable  direction  to  our  purposes 
''  and  determinations.  Our  fleshly  bodies,  like  the  grass 
"of  the  earth,  are  composed  of  the  elements  of  nature; 
"  these  elements  support  both  the  grass  and  our  fleshly 
"  bodies ;  and  as  the  grass  finally  withers  and  returns 
"back  from  whence  it  came,  is  decomposed  and  joined 
"  with  the  elements  of  which  it  was  composed,  so  do  our 
"  bodies  return  to  the  earth  from  whence  they  came. 
"  Dust  we  are,  and  unto  dust  we  must  return.  The  cer- 
"  tainty  of  our  mortality  is  as  apparent  to  us  all  as  it  can 
"  possibly  be  made.  However  seldom  we  may  think  on 
"  the  subject,  however  we  may  endeavor  to  put  it  out  of 
"  our  minds  and  thoughts,  however  we  may  endeavor  to 
"  drown  the  subject  by  devoting  our  attention  to  worldly 
"  objects  and  worldly  pursuits,  we  know  that  in  a  short 
"  time  we  must  be  called  to  leave  all  this  bustle  of  life, 
"  close  our  eyes  on  all  earthly  things,  and  return  to  the 
"  bosom  of  our  common  mother,  the  earth,  from  whence 
"we  canie. 

"  As  the  question  whether  man  should  exist  or  not  was 
"  not  submitted  to  him,  no  more  is  it  left  to  him  to  say 
"  whether  he  will  continue  in  this  state  forever,  or  depart 


332  BIOGRAPHY. 

'  out  of  it.  '  All  flesh  is  as  grass,  and  all  the  glory  of 
'  man  as  the  flower  of  grass ;  the  grass  withereth,  and 
'  the  flower  thereof  falleth  away.'  So  hath  the  Creator 
'  appointed  and  ordained  ;  and  it  is  not  in  the  power  of 
'  man  to  prevent  this  withering  of  the  grass,  and  this  fall- 
'  ing  of  the  flower  of  grass.  However  endearing  are  the 
'  ties  of  consanguinity,  however  tender  and  afiectionate 
'  are  kindred  hearts  towards  each  other,  with  whatever 
'  longings  and  fond  desires  fathers  and  mothers  may  look 
'  on  their  sons  and  daughters,  and  with  whatever  devo- 
'  tion  they  may  nourish  these  flowers  and  watch  over 
'  them,  they  are  altogether  like  the  grass  and  the  flower 
'  of  grass.  They  are  perishable.  It  is  not  in  the  power 
'  of  children,  however  afiectionately  they  may  love  their 
'  fathers  and  mothers,  and  however  they  may  desire  the 
'  continuance  of  such  kind  friends,  to  prevent  that  waste 
'  of  constitution  and  strength  which  time  and  disease  are 
'  sure  to  bring.  The  whitened  locks,  the  wrinkled  face, 
'  the  tottering  frame,  the  palsied  limbs  and  faltering 
'  voice,  are  sure  indications  that  the  time  of  departure  is 
'  at  hand.  . 

"  How  wonderfully  beautiful  is  the  full-grown  grass, 
'  with  its  blushing  and  fragrant  flow^ers  !  We  cast  our 
'eyes  over  the  luxuriant  meadow;  with  pleasure  we 
'  behold  its  beautiftd  flowers,  seeming  to  vie  with  each 
'  other  in  glory ;  and  though  we  may  fancy  a  preference 
•  for  this  or  for  that,  no  person  ever  beheld  a  blossom 
'  that  was  not  beautiful  to  the  eye.  So  we  behold  the 
'  society  of  man  in  health  and  in  the  prime  of  strength  ; 


SENTIMENTS  RELATIVE  TO  DEATH.      333 

''  and  how  pleasing  is  the  sight !  Look  at  these  sweet 
''  babes !  we  may  fancy  a  preference  for  the  beauty  of 
''  this  or  that,  but  no  one  can  help  admiring  every  such 
''  endearing  object.  Look  around  and  behold  the  spark- 
"  ling  eye  and  blushing  cheek  of  youth  and  beauty ;  but 
"  remember  these  are  flowers  gathered  for  the  tomb ! 
"  Whether  we  see  them  or  not,  Time  has  wings;  whether 
"  we  reahze  it  or  not,  his  flight  is  rapid.  What  is  time 
*'  when  it  is  past  7     Nothing  !  " 

*'  He  taught  us  how  to  live,  and  0  !  too  high 

Tlie  price  for  knowledge  !  taught  us  how  to  die  !  '* 

Touching  the  matter  of  death-bed  scenes  as  they  refer 
to  reliorious  belief,  and  the  influence  that  such  scenes  and 
circumstances  exerted  over  his  own  mind,  he  says  : 

"  It  has  often  been  said,  by  the  enemies  of  the  doctrine 
''  for  which  I  have  contended,  that  it  would  do  to  live  by, 
"  but  not  to  die  by;  meaning  that  it  would  not  give  the 
"  mind  satisfaction  Avhen  sensible  it  was  about  to  leave  a 
^'  mortal  for  an  immortal  state.  As  to  the  truth  of  the 
"  assertion  I  cannot  positively  say;  that  moment  has  not 
''yet  been  experienced  by  me  :  and  as  those  who  make 
"the  remark  have  never  believed  the  doctrine,  I  cannot 
"  see  how  they  should  know  any  better  than  I  do.  Thus 
"  much  I  can  say :  I  believe  I  have  seen,  and  often  heard, 
"  of  persons  rejoicing  in  the  doctrine  in  the  last  hours 
"of  their  hves;  but  I  do  not  build  my  faith  on  such 
"  grounds. 

"The  sorrows  or  the  joys  of  persons,  in    their   last 


334  BIOGRAPHY. 

'  moments,  prove  nothing  to  me  of  the  truth  of  their 
'  general  belief.  A  Jew,  who  despises  the  name  of  Christ 
'  from  the  force  of  his  education,  may  be  filled  with  com- 
'  fortable  hopes,  in  his  last  moments,  from  the  force  of 
'  the  same  education.  I  have  no  doubt  but  a  person  may 
'  believe,  or  pretend  to  believe,  in  the  doctrine  of  universal 
'salvation,  when  he  knows  of  no  solid  reason  for  his 
'  belief,  but  has  rather  rested  the  matter  on  the  judgment 
'  of  those  in  whom  he  has  placed  more  confidence  than  he 
'  has,  in  reality,  on  the  Saviour  of  the  world ;  and  I  think 
'  it  very  possible  that  such  Universalists  may  have 
'  strange  and  unexpected  fears,  when  the  near  approach 
'  of  death,  or  any  other  circumstance,  should  cause  them 
'■  to  think  more  seriously  on  so  weighty  a  subject. 

' '  What  my  feelings  might  be  concerning  the  doctrine 
'  which  I  believe,  was  I  called  to  contemplate  on  a  death- 
'  hed^  I  am  as  unable  to  say,  as  I  am  what  I  may  think 
'  of  it  a  year  hence,  should  I  live  and  be  in  health.  But 
'  I  am  satisfied,  beyond  a  doubt,  that  if  I  live  a  year 
'longer,  and  then  find  cause  to  give  up  my  present 
'  belief,  I  shall  not  feel  a  consciousness  of  having  pro- 
'  fessed  what  I  did  not  sincerely  believe  ;  and  was  I 
'  called  to  leave  the  world  and  my  ivritings  in  it,  and  at 
'  the  last  hovr  of  my  life  should  find  I  had  erred,  yet  I 
'  am  satisfied  that  I  should  possess  the  approbation  of 
'a  good  conscience  in  all  I  have  written.'''' 

That  Mr.  Ballou  felt  fully  prepared  to  die,  there  can 
be  not  the  least  doubt,  though  he  did  not  say  so  in  the 
exact  words  that  would  express  this  state  of  mind.     He 


SENTIMENTS  RELATIVE  TO  DEATH.      335 

frequently,  during  the  last  two  or  three  months  of  his 
life,  made  use  of  expressions,  as  relating  to  current  events, 
in  a  way  that  led  those  about  him  to  see  that  he  was  striv- 
ing, particularly,  to  have  every  matter  of  business,  or 
family  arrangement,  so  completed  as  not  in  any  way  to 
be  contingent  upon  himself  Then  his  frequent  observa- 
tions relative  to  the  idea  that  he  was  nearly  worn  out ; 
and  in  his  sermons,  too,  his  often  repeating  at  this  time 
how  near  he  was  to  the  brink  of  the  grave,  and  that  those 
who  heard  him  might  realize  the  honesty  of  his  reasoning 
and  the  sincerity  of  his  doctrine,  since,  with  so  short  a 
span  of  existence  left  to  him,  he  could  not  in  any  instance 
bring  himself  to  support  what  he  did  not  most  solemnly 
and  religiously  believe  to  be  the  gospel  of  Christ,  and 
in  full  accordance  with  the  word  of  God ;  the  caution 
already  referred  to  as  given  to  his  wife,  and  various  other 
simple  but  expressive  tokens  that  he  evinced  during  the 
few  weeks  previous  to  his  decease, —  all  go  fully  to  show 
that  his  mind  was  made  up  to  die,  and  that  he  foresaw,  as 
it  were,  the  approach  of  his  demise,  with  almost  prophetic 
vision.  The  philosophy,  or  sophistry,  therefore,  as  to 
looking  upon  death  as  the  inevitable  visitant  to  others, 
but  as  something  which  must  miraculously  pass  him  by, 
did  not  exist  in  his  mind.  He  looked  upon  death  as 
"the  messenger  of  God,  commissioned  from  on  high;" 
and  he  held  himself  calmly  ready  to  answer  the  blessed 
decree  of  Heaven. 

Though  almost  constantly  engaged  at  his  study  of  the 
holy  text,  or  in  other  reading  and  writing,  still,  so  domes- 


336  BIOGKAPHY. 

tic  was  Mr.  Ballou  in  his  disposition  and  feelings,  that  he 
alwaj's  took  a  lively  interest  in  all  the  arrangements  of 
the  family,  and  in  each  one's  well-being,  seeking  to  cause 
as  little  unnecessary  labor  as  possible  on  his  own  account. 
No  motives  other  than  those  of  the  kindest  character 
could  possibly  have  induced  this  thoughtfulness,  on  his 
part;  for  all  those  about  him,  even  the  servants,  always 
deemed  it  a  pleasure  to  serve  him  in  his  slightest  ex- 
pressed desire,  while  his  children  ever  sought  to  antici- 
pate his  wishes.  In  his  directions  to  those  called  upon  to 
attend  him,  there  was  none  of  the  austerity  or  sternness 
of  a  master  evinced  in  his  manner  of  speech.  The  order 
direct  we  never  heard  from  his  lips,  but.  in  giving  direc- 
tions, it  was  ever  in  the  form  of  permission, — "You  may 
do  this,  or  you  may  hand  me  that;"  and  the  appropriate- 
ness of  this  mode  of  speech  was  most  apparent,  since  it 
was  a  privilege  to  us  all  to  fulfil  his  desires. 

With  profane  history,  ancient  and  modern,  he  was  well 
acquainted ;  and  at  the  age  of  seventy-four,  five  and  six, 
he  devoted  some  considerable  time  to  the  reviewal  of  both, 
and  particularly  to  the  history  of  our  own  country. 
With  RoUin,  Plutarch,  Smollet,  Hume,  Prescott,  Ban- 
croft, etc.,  he  was  perfectly  familiar.  At  this  period  he 
was  engaged,  as  we  have  said,  in  re-perusing  the  works  of 
his  library,  treating  mainly  upon  profane  history.  As 
may  be  supposed,  to  one  of  his  disposition,  home  was 
very  dear,  and  he  was  always  happiest  with  his  family. 

*'  To  them  bis  heart,  his  love,  his  griefs,  were  given  ; 
But  all  his  serious  thoughts  had  rest  in  heaven." 


SENTIMENTS   RELATIVE   TO    DEATH.  33? 

During  the  whole  of  his  public  ministrations  and  pro- 
fessional career,  he  never  labored  with  more  evident  effect 
and  general  influence  than  at  this  time.  The  ripened 
harvest  of  his  experience  was  poured  forth  in  the  most 
simple  and  touching  truthfulness,  and  his  discourses  were 
redolent  of  holy  manna  to  the  souls  of  his  hearers  ;  the 
sober  arguments  of  conviction  obtained  even  more  fully 
than  in  former  years,  when  the  vigor  of  ripened  manhood 
added  its  physical  powers  to  the  balance.  Persons  who 
had  sat  under  his  preaching  for  many  years  would  listen' 
with  the  most  absorbed  attention,  as  well  as  with  surprise, 
to  hear  the  easy  flow  of  eloquence  that  seemed  to  come 
from  an  inspired  heart,  bearing  witness  to  his  quick,  sure 
discernment,  and  boundless  fertility  of  invention, —  the 
truth  and  exemplifications  of  divine  goodness  were  ever 
so  fresh  and  abundant  in  the  feast  he  spread,  the  argu- 
ments so  logical  and  convincing.  He  was  endowed  in 
many  respects  with  the  great  requisites  for  a  lawyer, 
possessing  a  mind  exceedingly  active,  capable  of  con- 
stantly commanding  its  own  resources,  and  a  faculty  of 
tenaciously  pursuing  his  argument  with  exceeding  force 
and  power. 

It  really  seemed,  latterly,  that,  realizing  how  brief 
must  be  his  labors,  and  how  near  he  was  to  the  end  of  his 
earthly  mission,  he  labored  with  increased  zeal,  and  conse- 
quent success.  His  eyes,  when  in  the  desk,  seemed  to 
kindle  with  superhuman  fire,  his  thoughts  to  flow  with 
inspired  eloquence  ;  and  those  who  heard  him  must  have 
entered  most  thoroughly  into  his  own  spirit,  for  we  have 
29 


338  BIOGRAPHY. 

heard,  from  all  directions  where  he  preached,  very  earnest 
remarks  of  the  striking  effect  produced  hy  his  discourses. 
And  this  effect  was  by  no  means  confined  to  the  laity ; 
many  of  his  ministering  brethren  have  told  us  that  they 
had  never  heard  him  discourse  with  more  power,  nor  ever 
with  such  decided  eflfect,  as  was  the  case  within  the  last 
two  years  of  his  life.  It  was  impossible  for  him  to  answer 
all  of  the  demands  upon  him,  but  neither  ordinary  incon- 
veniences nor  distance  ever  caused  him  to  decline  to 
respond  to  those  who,  at  this  late  period  of  his  life,  sought 
his  counsel.  In  vain  did  we  beseech  him  to  consider  his 
bodily  comfort,  and  not  risk  his  health  and  try  his 
strength  so  much,  at  his  advanced  age,  by  these  constant 
travels.  "  I  am  vain  enough,"  he  said,  "to  believe  that 
"  I  still  do  some  good,  and  I  am  never  so  happy  as  when 
"exercised  by  such  a  realizing  sense;  but,  whether  at 
"  home  or  abroad,  I  am  still  in  my  Maker's  hands,  and 
"  he  will  do  with  me  as  to  him  seemeth  good." 

Mr.  Ballou's  manuscript  was  always  remarkably  plain 
and  correct,  being,  in  many  respects,  very  characteristic 
of  himself  It  was  regular,  exceedingly  neat,  and  well 
executed,  yet  unostentatious,  and  in  no  degree  ornamental. 
For  our  own  part,  we  would  give  more  for  a  scrap  of  the 
hand-writing  of  one  whom  we  had  never  met,  or  even  of 
him  whom  we  had  casually  seen,  to  enable  us  to  judge  of 
the  general  characteristics  of  the  individual's  disposition, 
than  for  the  testimony  of  many  an  intimate  friend.  It  is, 
of  necessity,  in  a  very  great  degree,  a  sample  of  the  man ; 
and  when  we  look   upon  it,  and   think  that  it  was  the 


SENTIMENTS   KELATIVB   TO   DEATH.  339 

work  of  his  hand,  the  emanation  of  his  brain,  mechani- 
cally and  mentally  his,  it  possesses  peculiar  interest. 

Mr.  Ballou  was  sometimes  addressed,  by  letter,  from  a 
distance,  from  those  who  were  strangers  to  him,  and 
sometimes  by  brethren  in  the  ministry,  who  would  request 
him  to  reply  to  certain  queries  which  they  proposed,  that 
they  might  reap  the  advantage  of  his  wisdom.  These 
letters  were  various  in  their  character ;  some  related  to 
religious  questions,  some  to  his  ow^n  history,  and  some  as 
to  its  bearing  upon  his  beli/sf  in  the  tenets  of  faith.  One 
who  professed  to  have  read  his  numerous  works,  and  who 
was  also  an  ardent  believer  in  the  doctrine  of  universal 
salvation,  converted  through  his  writings,  sent  the  follow- 
ing queries  to  him  in  a  letter  some  time  in  1847,  during 
his  seventy-sixth  year.  Having  the  letter  and  reply,  we 
subjoin  the  spirit  of  the  former,  and  give  the  latter  to  the 
reader  entire. 

^^  Queries. —  With  what  feelings  do  you  look  back  upon 
"  your  past  hfe,  its  influence  and  results,  its  commence- 
"  ment  and  its  end?  As  it  regards  your  published 
"  works  and  Avritings,  has  experience  strengthened  the 
''  opinions  and  points  laid  down  in  them,  or  have  your 
"  after  years  of  study  and  reflection  found  cause  for 
"change?  What  is  the  present  end  and  aim  of  your 
"  life,  and  how  does  it  differ  from  the  morning  of  your 
' '  existence  ? 

^^  Reply  to  Query  Isf. — When  I  survey  the  course  of 
''  my  past  life,  as  I  often  do,  I  am  filled  with  wonder ;  and 
'*  a  clear  conviction  that,  as  a  whole,  it  has  been  appointed 


340  BIOGRAPHY. 

"  and  directed  by  Infinite  Wisdom,  all  but  reduces  me  to 
"  nothing.  True,  I  can  simply  realize  that  I  exist;  and 
*'  can  compare  myself  to  a  drop  of  water  in  the  midst  of 
"  the  ocean,  dependent,  as  I  always  have  been,  on  that 
''  Being  who  holds  the  unmeasured  deep  in  the  hollow  of 
*'  his  hand.  I  am  fully  satisfied  that  none  of  the  event- 
"  ful  incidents  of  my  life  would  have  been  what  they 
"  were,  had  not  an  overruling  Providence  disappointed 
"  my  own  plans  and  purposes  in  many  instances.  Pur- 
"  suant  to  these  considerations,  in  viewing  the  apparent 
"  '  influences  and  results '  of  my  labors,  I  should  be  quite 
"  at  variance  with  the  conviction  of  my  own  under- 
*'  standinof,  should  I  induW  a  feelino^  to  credit  them  to 
''  myself.  With  such  views  of  the  past  and  present,  I 
"  feel  satisfied,  and  even  thankful. 

"  My  childhood  and  youth  were,  like  most  of  others, 
*'  full  of  vanity.  My  public  life  commenced  with  no 
''  extensive  prospects.  I  do  not  know  that  the  thought 
"  ever  entered  my  mind  that  my  public  labors  would  ever 

''  procure  me  a  livelihood My  main  desire  now 

"  is  that  it  may  please  Him  whose  I  am  and  whom  I 
"  serve,  so  to  direct  that  what  remains  of  my  fleeting 
''  days  may  in  no  w^ay  dishonor,  but  promote,  the  cause 
"  of  his  truth,  to  which  I  have  so  long  been  devoted. 

"  Reply  to  Query  2nd. —  All  the  important  doctrinal 
"points  contained  in  the  several  works  which  I  have 
"  published  are  still  my  honest  convictions ;  and  as  they 
"  were  widely  different  from  the  views  generally  enter- 
"  tained    by    theologians,    I    examined    them   with   all 


SENTIMENTS   RELATIVE   TO    DEATH.  841 

*'  possible  care,  and  have  never  seen  cause  to  rescind 
*'  them.  And  I  can  add,  that  I  have  never,  in  my  public 
*'  labors,  allowed  myself  to  present  to  my  hearers  any 
*'  sentiment,  or  to  expound  any  portion  of  scripture,  but 
"  in  accordance  with  the  sober  convictions  of  my  under- 
''  standing. 

''  Reply  to  Query  2>d. —  The  main  object  by  which  I 
''  was  actuated  at  the  commencement  of  my  public  labors 
*'  was  to  understand  the  true  doctrine  of  the  Scriptures, 
*'  and  by  all  possible  means  to  convey  conviction  of  its 
*'  truth  to  the  understanding  of  all  who  had  ears  to  hear; 
"  and  my  present  aim  is  to  finish,  in  the  best  manner  I 
*'  can,  these  labors,  by  persuading  people,  not  only  to 
*'  understand  the  true  nature  of  the  gospel,  but  to  cherish 
"  its  blessed  hopes,  and  to  faithfully  practise  its  pre- 
*'  cepts." 

During  a  visit  of  the  author  of  this  biography  to  the 
Southern  and  Western  States  of  the  Union,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1846,  he  had  an  opportunity  to  witness  the  most 
evident  token  of  the  popularity  of  Mr.  Ballou  in  these 
sections,  and  the  high  esteem  in  which  his  writings  are 
held.  This  was  particularly  the  case  in  the  State  of 
Ohio,  the  most  distant  point  from  his  home  that  Mr. 
Ballou  ever  visited.  Here,  in  passing  through  the  state, 
we  had  frequent  occasion  to  register  our  name  and  place 
of  residence,  which  often  led  to  our  being  asked  whether 
"we  were  a  connection  of  Hosea  Ballou's ;  and  when  the 
existing  relationship  was  made  known,  there  were  no 
bounds  to  the  hospitality  that  was  urged  upon  us.  In 
29* 


342  BIOGRAPHY. 

Cincinnati,  it  so  happened  that  an  original  lithographic 
print  of  Mr.  Ballou  was  being  struck  off  just  as  we  left 
the  city,  and  we  were  kindly  furnished  with  the  first 
dozen  impressions  taken  from  the  stone.  This  lithograph 
is  from  a  crayon  drawing  taken  from  life,  at  Akron, 
Ohio,  during  the  visit  of  Mr.  Ballou  to  that  town  in  1844, 
by  an  artist  sent  up  from  Cincinnati  for  the  purpose. 
The  likeness  is  a  good  one  in  many  respects,  but  much 
inferior  to  several  taken  in  Boston,  both  as  it  regards 
likeness  and  as  a  work  of  art. 

During  the  summer  of  1847,  Mr.  Ballou  visited  his 
eldest  son,  Rev.  Hosea  F.  Ballou,  at  his  residence  and 
farm  in  Whitingham,  Vt.,  where  for  several  days  he 
applied  himself  to  labor  on  the  land;  reaping,  mowing, 
and  the  various  departments  of  farming,  during  the  week, 
and  to  public  services  in  that  and  the  neighboring 
towns  on  the  Sabbath.  These  few  weeks  of  healthy  toil 
invigorated  him  to  a  most  surprising  degree,  and,  though 
more  than  seventy-five  years  of  age,  I  was  assured  by 
those  who  were  on  the  spot  that  he  did  the  work  of  a 
day-laborer  with  ease,  and  that  his  hand  wielded  the 
scythe  with  the  steadiness  and  effect  of  early  years.  He 
told  us  afterwards  himself  how  sweet  his  food  tasted,  how 
refreshing  his  bed  felt,  and  how  clear  and  invigorated  his 
brain  was,  by  this  homely  labor,  and  the  sweat  of  the 
brow.  He  would  sometimes  sigh  at  the  constraint  of  his 
town  life,  and  eulogize  the  green  fields  and  verdant  hill- 
sides. He  says  :  "  All  of  us  have  our  prescribed  duties, 
"  and  the  economy  of  nature  requires  certain  tastes  and 


SENTIMENTS    RELATIVE   TO    DEATH.  343 

"  temperaments  that  -will  apply  themselves  to  the  various 
"  concerns  of  life.  We  find  the  mechanic,  the  farmer, 
"  the  minister,  the  artisan,  the  lawyer,  all  endowed  with 
*'  some  prominent  qualities,  which  particularly  fit  them 
*'  for  the  proper  discharge  of  their  peculiar  calling ;  and 
*'  this  is  necessary,  that  all  things  may  be  done  well  and 
'*  harmoniously.  But,  of  all  the  business  occupations  of 
"  life,  it  has  always  seemed  to  me  that  the  farmer's  em- 
''  ployment  must  be  the  most  agreeable.  The  country  is 
"  real,  the  city  is  artificial ;  one  is  nature,  the  other  is 
"  art.  In  the  earlier  portions  of  my  life,  I  gathered  some 
*' experience  in  tilling  the  soil;  in  boyhood  and  early 
*'  youth,  it  was  almost  my  sole  occupation.  Even  as  late 
'^  as  my  residence  in  Salem,  I  was  accustomed  to  plant 
'^  and  cultivate  a  portion  of  ground.  The  great  charm  of 
"  the  farmer's  element  is  that  it  brings  him  in  such  close 
"  contact  with  nature  ;  his  labor,  so  healthful  and  invig- 
"  orating,  being  performed  to  the  soft  hymns  and  sacred 
"  melodies  that  creation  ever  chants  in  open  fields  and 
*'  woodlands." 

During  this  season  Mr.  Ballou  travelled  considerably 
in  the  New  England  States  and  New  York,  in  accord- 
ance with  letters  of  invitation  sent  to  him  from  every 
direction.  During  the  month  of  August  he  preached  at 
numerous  places  in  the  vicinity  of  Montpelier,  Vt.,  and 
the  route  thither  from  Boston.  This  journey  was  peculiarly 
gratifying  to  his  feelings  ;  everywhere  he  was  received 
•with  that  warmth  of  heart  and  real  sincerity  that  invig- 
orate the  soul.     Meetinor-houses  were  abandoned  as  too 


844  BIOGRAPHY. 

small,  and  temporary  pulpits  were  erected  in  the  open 
air,  from  whence  he  addressed  the  thousands  who  came 
from  far  and  near  to  listen  to  his  words.  His  name  was 
so  well  known,  and  his  character  so  beloved,  throughout 
the  order,  that  the  simple  announcement  of  his  presence 
drew  multitudes  together,  who  listened  with  the  utmost 
avidity  to  his  words,  which  carried  with  them  the  "  clear 
running  wine  of  conviction." 

Here  let  us  pause  for  a  moment,  and  ask  the  reader 
to  consider  what  a  powerful  and  godly  influence  the  life 
of  such  a  man  must  have  exerted  upon  community, 
and  those  persons  with  whom  he  was  brought  into  fre- 
quent contact.  There  was  such  perfect  harmony,  such  a 
beautiful  consistency,  between  his  pure  Christian  life  and 
the  relioi;ion  he  taught,  that  the  most  thoui^htless  could  not 
but  observe  and  note  it.  We  heard  an  old  man  say,  but  a 
few  days  ago, — "  Before  I  knew  your  father  I  heard  that 
"he  was  one  of  the  vilest  of  men;  that  he  was  intem- 
"perate,  profane,  vulgar,  and,  in  short,  everything  that 
"  was  bad.  But  when  I  saw  him,  meek,  unostentatious, 
"gentle,  reverential,  and  preaching  such  glorious  truths, 
"  I  said  to  myself,  so  was  his  Divine  Master  reviled  and 
"  persecuted !  "  This  was  the  false  report  that  was 
raised  against  him  thirty  and  forty  years  since.  The 
subject  of  this  biography  did  not  answer  these  calumnies  ; 
he  lived  them  down,  and  manifested  as  strong  an  argu- 
ment in  favor  of  his  doctrine  by  his  every-day  life,  as  by 
his  oral  communications  from  the  pulpit.  His  writings, 
too,  evincing  the  same  spirit  as  his  personal  career,  mani- 


SENTIMENTS   RELATIVE   TO    DEATH.  345 

Testing  so  much  sincerity,  and  logical  force  of  argument, 
garbed  in  such  simple  language,  and  yet  conveying  such 
sublime  truths,  and  these  so  largely  enforced  by  a  per- 
sonal knowledge  of  their  author, —  at  least  throughout  a 
large  portion  of  the  eastern  states, —  must  have  exerted, 
and  will  continue  to  exert,  an  influence  of  almost  incalcu- 
lable extent. 

It  is  in  perfect  unison  with  the  analogy  of  nature  that 
the  sunset  of  life  should  be  more  cheerful  and  joyous  than 
the  meridian.  The  sweetest  notes  of  the  nightingale  are 
heard  at  evening,  the  woods  put  on  their  most  cheerful 
aspect  in  the  autumn  of  the  year,  and  the  sun  is  the 
brightest  when  about  to  sink  beneath  the  horizon.  It 
■was  at  this  period  of  life  that  Mr.  Ballou  seemed  to  have 
arrived  at  the  goal  of  his  ambition,  actuated  only  by 

•'  Those  calm  desires  that  ask  but  little  room." 

The  principles  which  he  had  so  long  and  so  strenu- 
ously advocated  prevailing  beyond  all  precedence,  his 
family  happily  settled  in  life  about  him,  and  himself 
respected  and  beloved  by  an  entire  denomination  as  a 
faithful  disciple  of  Christ  and  a  true  Christian.  In  a 
conversation  with  him  upon  the  comforts  and  troubles  of 
old  age,  we  asked  him,  one  day,  about  this  period,  what 
was  his  greatest  trouble.  He  facetiously  referred  us  to 
the  reply  of  Fontenelle,  who  was  asked,  in  extreme  old 
age,  what  inconvenience  he  experienced,  when  he  replied, 
"  None,  but  that  of  existence,"  signifying  by  this  answer 
how  really  happy  and  contented  he  was. 


346  BIOGRAPHY. 

For  the  last  twenty  years  of  Mr.  Ballou's  life,  it  was 
not  an  uncommon  occurrence  for  strangers  from  a  dis- 
tance to  call  on  him  and  introduce  themselves,  as  desirous 
of  looking  upon  him  and  making  his  acquaintance.  "I 
"have  read  your  works,  and  it  has  seemed  as  though  I 
"  knew  you  well  already,  for  they  are  like  familiar  con- 
"  versations."  This  would  be  the  purport  of  their  lan- 
guage. "  Your  books,"  they  would  say,  "  have  made  me 
' '  a  Universalist ;  and  I  could  not  feel  satisfied  until  I  had 
"seen  personally  one  to  whom  I  am  so  much  indebted, 
"and  whom  I  so  highly  respect."  This  was  the  case  in 
more  than  one  instance,  at  different  periods,  when  English- 
men declared  that  it  was  the  great  purpose  that  had  in- 
fluenced them  in  visiting  the  Union.  In  such  cases  they 
met  with  a  cordial  and  hospitable  welcome  at  his  house 
and  table,  and  hours  of  pleasant  discussion  would  ensue 
upon  the  doctrines  of  the  Scriptures,  and  congenial 
themes.  Many  were  the  visitors  from  various  parts  of 
the  country  with  the  same  avowed  purpose,  and  similarly 
influenced. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1848,  owing  to  some  unfortunate 
exposure  to  the  weather,  he  was  most  violently  attacked 
with  ague  in  the  face,  so  severe  as  to  cause  the  whole  face 
to  swell  so  much  as  to  close  one  of  the  eyes  entirely. 
The  attack  lasted  in  its  eflects  for  several  days,  and  was 
exceedingly  painful.  Though  moved  with  the  keenest 
regret  at  the  pain  we  knew  he  must  suffer,  still  we  could 
not  but  admire  the  strength  of  mind  and  calm  philosophy 
with  which  he  endured  it.     Not  a  murmur  escaped  his 


SENTIMENTS  RELATIVE  TO  DEATH.       347 

lips,  and  intervals  occurring  between  the  most  severe 
moments  of  his  suffering  were  devoted  to  writing  or  studj, 
■while  the  constant  kind  offices  of  those  about  him,  and 
more  particularly  those  of  his  dearly-beloved  partner  and 
children,  were  ever  received  with  grateful  words,  and 
tokens  of  a  full  appreciation  of  the  warm  love  that 
prompted  them. 

In  the  summer  of  1847,  the  School-street  Society 
requested  of  Mr.  Ballou,  through  its  standing  committee, 
that  he  would  sit  for  a  full-length  portrait,  to  be  the 
property  of  the  society,  and  to  be  hung  in  Murray  Hall, 
adjoining  the  church.  Mr.  Ballou  agreed  to  their  prop- 
osition, and  granted  the  requisite  sittings,  and  a  magnifi- 
cent portrait  was  produced.  The  picture  is  as  large  as 
life.  The  preacher  is  represented  standing  in  the  pulpit 
of  the  School-street  church,  the  fingers  of  the  right  hand 
inserted  in  the  Bible,  the  left  slightly  extended.  The 
likeness  and  expression  are  perfectly  life-like,  and  true  to 
the  original.  From  this  excellent  painting  several  copies 
have  been  taken  for  his  family  and  friends. 

This  painting  was  the  source  of  a  great  degree  of  satis- 
faction to  the  society  and  Mr.  Bailouts  friends  generally, 
for,  in  common  with  many  others  left  of  him,  it  is  excel- 
lent as  a  likeness,  and  therefore  is  a  pregnant  page  in 
his  history;  for,  of  the  three  principal  channels  of  judging 
and  arriving  at  the  knowledge  of  character,  namely, 
looks,  words  and  actions,  the  former  is  the  most  faithful. 
Professions  pass  for  nothing,  actions  may  be  counterfeited, 
but  a  man's  looks  he  cannot  hide.     A  modern  writer,  in 


348  BIOGRAPHY. 

language  perhaps  too  forcible,  says  :  —  "A  man's  whole 
"  life  may  be  a  lie  to  himself  and  others,  and  yet  a  picture 
"  painted  of  him  by  a  great  artist  would  probably  stamp 
"his  true  character  on  the  canvas,  and  betray  the  secret 
"  to  posterity."  Subscribing  in  a  large  degree  to  this 
principle,  we  consider  that  the  paintings,  busts,  medal- 
lions, and  likenesses  generally,  of  Mr.  Ballou,  may  be 
highly  valued  as  speaking  his  true  character  in  the  ex- 
pression, and  telling  a  faithful  story  of  the  original. 

As  it  regards  the  likeness  which  the  publisher  has 
placed  in  the  commencement  of  this  biography,  to  those 
who  have  not  seen  the  subject  of  the  picture  within  the 
last  few  years,  it  may  look  perhaps  a  little  too  aged ;  but 
in  this  respect  it  is  the  most  truthful  of  any  likeness  of 
him  extant.  He  has  been  often  represented,  as  the  reader 
is  aware,  at  almost  every  period  of  his  life  since  his 
thirtieth  year ;  and  with  more  or  less  correctness,  in 
each  instance,  as  it  regarded  his  expression  and  forma- 
tion of  features  at  that  time ;  but  it  strikes  us  that  those 
who  have  been  familiar  with  Mr.  Ballou's  face  to  the  last 
of  his  career  will  esteem  this  engraving,  aside  from  its 
superior  artistic  excellence,  as  transcribing  for  us  the 
last  looks  of  his  dearly-loved  face. 

In  a  notice  of  the  large  painting  now  hanging  in  Mur- 
ray Hall,  which  appeared  in  the  Trumpet  of  Sept.  4th, 
1847,  the  editor  says  :  — - 

"  He  (Mr.  Ballou)  is  now  in  excellent  health,  firm, 
''  erect,  and  preaches  vigorously  ;  his  mind  is  unimpaired  ; 
*'he  is  strong  in  the  faith  to  which  the  labors  of  his  life 


SENTIMENTS   RELATIVE   TO    DEATH.  349 

^'have  been  given,  and  we  do  not  see  why  he  will  not  be 
''able  to  preach  for  ten  years  to  come,  should  his  life  be 
''  spared.  He  can  preach  three  sermons  with  but  little 
*'  fatigue,  while  some  of  the  middle-aged  can  hardly  find 
*'  strength  to  preach  twice  of  a  Sunday." 

In  the  fall  of  1847,  Mr.  Ballou,  then  in  his  seventy- 
seventh  year,  attended  the  Universalist  convention  in 
New  York  city,  where  he  delivered  a  sermon  before  the 
brethren  assembled  there,  which  created  no  small  degree 
of  notice,  and  was  pronounced  by  those  who  heard  it  to 
be  one  of  extraordinary  power  and  force.  Some  of  the 
brethren  at  once  called  upon  him  for  a  copy  for  publica- 
tion ;  but  when  he  told  them  that  he  had  no  copy  him- 
self, and  that  it  was  entirely  extemporaneous,  their 
surprise  was  great.  That  one  of  his  advanced  age  could 
deliver  a  discourse  of  so  remarkable  a  character,  with 
every  point  arranged  in  the  most  exact  order,  abounding 
in  powerful  and  well-sustained  argument  and  varied 
phases,  unless  assisted  by  notes,  seemed  almost  .impos- 
sible. 

So  much  sensation  did  this  discourse  create,  that  Mr. 
Ballou  acceded  to  the  earnest  solicitations  that  besieged 
him,  and  wrote  it  out  for  the  press,  and  it  was  published 
in  pamphlet  form.  He  remarked  to  us,  concerning  the 
matter,  that  it  was  much  harder  for  him  to  write  it  than 
it  would  have  been  to  have  written  two  sermons  from  a 
given  text,  since  he  had  to  recall  what  he  had  spoken 
extempore  weeks  before.  But  this  was  done  so  exactly 
as  to  create  surprise  in  those  who  had  listened  to  it  from 
30 


350  BIOGRAPHY. 

the  pulpit,  for  its  correctness  and  likeness  to  tlie  oral 
delivery. 

"VVe  subjoin  a  short  sketch  from  this  sermon,  because  it 
is  so  characteristic  of  the  spirit  that  actuated  Mr.  Ballou 
at  all  times  ;  a  spirit  of  the  utmost  simplicity, —  one  of 
the  striking  peculiarities  of  real  genius, —  both  in  his 
public  teachings  and  private  life,  and  also  as  a  specimen 
of  his  purity  and  force  of  style  at  this  period  of  life. 
The  contrast  drawn  between  the  gospel  of  Christ  and  the 
polished  creed  of  the  schools  is  striking  and  obvious. 

"  With  all  the  pomp,  with  all  the  glory,  with  all  the 
"  wealth,  and  all  the  learning  of  the  schools,  among  both 
"  Jews  and  Gentiles,  let  us,  for  a  moment,  compare  the 
"  simplicity  that  was  in  Christ.  Born  in  a  family  which 
*'was  supported  by  mechanical  labor,  brought  up  in 
"  laborious  habits,  destitute  of  wealth  and  the  honors  of 
"  the  schools,  he  commenced  his  public  labors.  To 
"  assist  him  in  the  ministry  of  his  doctrine,  a  few  fisher- 
"men,  and  others  of  useful  occupation,  were  chosen. 
"  The  doctrine  which  Jesus  taught  was  as  simple  and 
"  easy  to  understand  as  the  common  affairs  of  life. 
"  His  sermon  on  the  mount,  containing  the  sublimest 
"beatitudes,  and  all  the  duties  of  life,  requires  but 
^'  ordinary  talents  to  understand.  His  manner  of  teach- 
"  ing  by  the  use  of  parables  communicated  truth  in  the 
''  most  simple  manner.  When  he  justified  his  favor  to 
"  publicans  and  sinners,  of  which  he  was  accused  by  the 
"  Pharisees  and  Scribes,  how  simple  was  his  method  ! 
"  '  What  man  of  you,  having  an  hundred  sheep,  if  he 


SENTIMENTS  RELATIVE  TO  DEATH.       851 

'■'■  lose  one  of  them,  doth  not  leave  the  ninety  and  nine  in 
"the  wilderness,  and  go  after  that  which  is  lost,  until  he 
"  find  it  ?  and  when  he  hath  found  it  he  layeth  it  on  his 
"shoulder,  rejoicing.  And  when  he  cometh  home,  he 
"calleth  together  his  friends  and  neighbors,  saying  unto 
"them.  Rejoice  with  me;  for  I  have  found  my  sheep 
"  which  was  lost.'  And  how  subhmely  simple,  if  I  may 
"  so  say,  was  his  application  of  his  parable  !  '  I  say  unto 
"you,  that  likewise  joy  shall  be  in  heaven  over  one 
"  sinner  that  repenteth,  more  than  over  ninety  and  nine 
"just  persons,  which  need  no  repentance.'  On  foot,  see 
"him  travel  from  city  to  city  !  Fatigued  and  weary  of 
"his  journey,  see  him  resting  himself  by  Jacob's  well  at 
"Sichar;  and  mark  the  simplicity  of  his  conversation 
"with  the  woman  of  Samaria!  To  set  his  disciples  an 
"example  of  humility,  behold  him  who  gave  sight  to  the 
"Wind,  hearing  to  the  deaf,  heahng  to  the  sick,  sound- 
"ness  to  the  maimed,  and  life  to  the  dead,  gird  himself 
"with  a  towel,  and  wash  their  feet  ! 

"How  poorly  has  the  simplicity  which  is  in  Christ 
"been  maintained  by  the  Christian  church!  Read  its 
"history,  in  which  we  learn  its  conformity  to  such 
"  worldly  institutions  and  customs  as  are  pleasing  to 
"  human  ambition,  and  all  the  vain  pride  and  corruption 
"which  characterized  pagan  idolatry.  That  subtilty 
"  with  which  the  serpent  beguiled  Eve  is  constantly  at 
"work,  persuading  us  to  seek  to  render  religion  popular 
"  in  the  eyes  of  the  world.  That  spiritual  wickedness 
"  may  be  maintained  in  high  places,  high  places  must  be 


352  BIOGRAPHY. 

*'  established  and  supported.  So  deeply  is  the  love  of 
''  popular  esteem  rooted  in  the  heart,  that  it  is  to  be 
''  feared  many  are  inclined  to  concede  to  opinions  and 
"customs  inconsistent  with  their  better  judgment,  for 
"  the  sake  of  that  shining  phantom." 

"VVe  remember  an  incident  which  occurred  to  Mr. 
Ballou  in  January  of  1848,  which  he  related  to  us  at 
the  time.  He  had  occasion  to  enter  an  omnibus  to  pro- 
ceed from  one  extreme  of  the  city  to  another,  when,  hav- 
ing scarcely  become  seated,  an  elderly  woman,  who  was 
occupying  a  seat  immediately  opposite,  said  to  him, — 
"  Mr.  Ballou,  do  you  not  constantly  preach  to  your  con- 
"  gregation,  '  0  ye  generation  of  vipers  !  how  can  ye 
"escape  the  damnation  of  hell?'"  Mr.  Ballou  turned 
his  keen,  piercing  eye  upon  her,  and  seeing  that  some 
bigoted  and  fanatical  individual  had  recognized  him,  and 
desired  to  commence  an  argument,  replied, — "  No, 
"  madam  ;  that  class  do  not  attend  my  church  !  "  The 
woman  had  not  anticipated  so  decided  an  answer,  and, 
shading  her  eyes  with  her  hands,  contemplated  the  floor 
of  the  coach  the  remainder  of  the  passage. 

So  little  self-pride  had  Mr.  Ballou,  and  so  little  com- 
paratively did  he  think  or  care  about  having  any  bio- 
graphical sketch  appear  of  him  after  his  death,  that  it 
was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  that  we  persuaded  him  to 
attempt  a  manuscript  of  even  a  few  pages,  that  a  more 
authentic  record  might  be  preserved  for  the  aid  of  the 
subject  when  it  should  be  taken  in  hand.  But  all  that 
we  were  able  to  procure  from  him  the  reader  will  find 


SENTIMENTS  RELATIVE  TO  DEATH.       353 

duly  credited  in  these  pages.  Mr.  Ballon  had  an  am- 
bition, however,  that  his  written  works  should  be  pre- 
served after  him;  for  in  them  he  had  labored  for  the 
good  of  mankind,  and  he  hoped  those  labors  might  not 
prove  unavailable.  His  wish  was  highly  gratified,  in  this 
respect,  during  his  life,  by  the  very  wide  circulation  they 
attained,  and  the  numerous  editions  of  them  which  were 
published,  showing  that  they  were  largely  read  and  val- 
ued by  the  Christian  world. 

Having  partially  yielded  to  our  reiterated  solicitations 
for  some  few  pages  of  manuscript,  if  only  relating  to  the 
simplest  affairs,  he  sat  down,  and  commenced  a  sheet  of 
paper  in  the  same  humorous  vein  in  which  he  was  always 
sure  to  treat  the  idea  of  writing  of  himself  This  com- 
mencement was  as  follows : 

"  I  have  never  learned  that  there  were,  before  my 
"  birth,  any  prophecies  delivered  by  any  one,  or  that  any 
^'  one  had  dreamed  anything  concerning  myself  If  there 
''  happened,  at  the  time  of  my  birth,  an  earthquake,  or 
*'  the  appearance  of  a  comet,  or  any  other  phenomenon 
"  of  nature  which  indicated  anything  relative  to  me,  or 
''  signified  what  manner  of  person  I  should  become,  in 
"  what  employment  my  life  should  be  spent,  whether  I 
''  should  become  useful  to  society  or  a  nuisance,  the  fact 
"  has  never  come  to  my  knowledge." 

The  life  of  Mr.  Ballou  is  so  intimately  woven  with  the 

annals  of  Universalism  that  the  account  of  the  one  must 

be  an  almost  complete  life  of  the  other.     He  nursed  the 

first  dawn  of  belief  in  impartial  and  free  grace  to  all  man- 

30* 


354  BIOGRAPHY. 

kind,  and  lived  to  see  the  blessed  doctrine  grow  and 
spread  over  the  land,  like  the  day,  from  its  breaking  to 
the  meridian.  He  was  the  pioneer,  the  leader,  the  propa- 
gator, of  Universalism. 

During  April,  1848,  he  visited  and  preached  in  Phila- 
delphia, New  York,  &c.,  and  on  his  return  expressed 
himself  as  he  always  did  of  the  brethren  in  those  cities, 
and  that  he  had  been  made  most  happy  in  his  communion 
with  them. 

About  this  period,  an  infatuated  preacher  of  future 
punishment,  somewhere  in  the  northern  part  of  New 
York  State,  while  in  a  high  state  of  excitement,  declared 
to  his  audience  that  Universalists  and  Infidels  always  re- 
nounced their  belief  before  they  died,  and  absolutely 
instanced  old  Hosea  Ballou,  as  he  termed  him,  who  had 
lately  died,  penitent  and  fully  repentant  for  his  evil  life, 
entirely  refuting  all  his  former  belief,  and  praying  to  be 
saved  from  the  wrath  to  come.  Equally  ridiculous  allu- 
sions were  made  to  his  wife,  who  was  said  to  have  showed 
more  consistency,  and  to  have  died  stubbornly  adhering 
to  her  old  principles.  This  ridiculous  assertion  was  re- 
ported in  a  paper  published  in  the  vicinity,  and  a  copy 
marked  and  sent  to  Mr.  Ballou. 

We  asked  him  if  he  had  not  better  address  a  brief  let- 
ter to  the  editor,  just  to  confound  the  propagator  of  the 
falsehood.  "  No,"  said  he  ;  "I  have  learned,  by  experi- 
"  ence,  that  libels,  if  neglected,  are  forgotten ;  if  resented, 
"they  too  frequently  pass  for  merited  satire." 

In  the  month  of  June,  1849,  Mr.  Ballou  visited  Troy, 


SENTIMENTS  RELATIVE  TO  DEATH.      355 

N.  Y.,  for  a  few  weeks,  and  preached  there  and  in  the 
neighborhood,  with  his  accustomed  vigor  and  mental 
power.  His  clear,  musical  tones  of  voice  were  as  per- 
fectly modulated  as  ever,  and  his  mental  and  physical 
vigor  was  the  occasion  of  remark  by  all  who  listened  to 
him. 

One  of  Mr.  Ballou's  latest  impromptu  efforts  at  versi- 
fication was  elicited  by  a  request  for  his  autograph,  by  a 
young  lady,  who  presented  her  album  for  this  purpose, 
and  in  which  he  wrote  the  following  lines : 

THE   MAID   I  PRIZE. 

**  The  maid  I  prize  may  not  be  one 

Whose  beauty  dazzles  vulgar  eyes  ; 
Those  glowing  folds  't  were  wise  to  shun, 
Where  death  in  hidden  poison  lies. 

The  maid  I  prize  may  not  rely 
On  costly  robes  my  heart  to  win  ; 

The  rose's  blush,  the  lily's  dye, 
Can  ne'er  commend  a  breast  of  sin. 

The  maid  I  prize  has  tears  for  grief, 
And  soft  compassion  for  the  poor  ; 

'T  is  her  delight  to  grant  relief  ; 
Where  want  resides  she  knows  the  door. 

The  maid  I  prize  hath  chosen  that  part 

The  golden  Indies  cannot  buy  ; 
And  garnered  in  a  pious  heart 

A  treasure  far  above  the  sky.'* 

As  late  as  December,  1851,  and  January,  1852,  Mr. 
Ballou   passed   five  weeks   in   the   city  of  New  York, 


856  BIOGRAPHY. 

preaching  to  the  societies  there  frequently  three  times  of 
a  Sabbath,  and  at  conference  meetings  during  other  days 
of  the  week.  He  was  often  called  upon  for  lengthy 
remarks,  which  he  most  cheerfully  and  heartily  gave. 
He  was  never  so  happy,  never  so  well,  as  when  engaged 
about  his  Master's  business ;  and  though,  at  this  age, — 
eighty-one, —  his  form  was  a  little  bent,  and  his  step  less 
firm  than  of  yore,  yet  in  the  pulpit  he  stood  as  erect  as 
at  fifty.  His  whole  soul  seemed  to  dilate,  and  his  firm- 
ness of  voice  and  body  to  be  like  iron ;  so  much  so, 
indeed,  that  it  was  usual  to  hear  remarks  to  this  effect, 
from  all  quarters,  wherever  he  appeared. 

During  this  his  last  visit  to  New  York,  he  wrote  to  us 
as  follows : 

''  Maturix  :  A  kind  Providence  brought  me  safely 
*'  hither  in  due  course,  and  I  have  already  made  several 
''  appointments  and  promises  relative  to  my  services  while 
"  I  tarry  here.  As  in  years  gone  by,  I  find  the  same 
"  cordial  hospitality  here,  and  brotherly  love  extended 
''  towards  me  still.  I  need  hardly  say  how  grateful  this 
"  is  to  my  feelings.  We  grow,  perhaps,  more  sensitive, 
"  as  we  advance  in  age,  as  to  these  little  kindnesses  and 
"  attentions,  that  unitedly  go  to  make  up  the  quiet  peace 
''  and  happiness  of  private  life. 

"Our  Heavenly  Father  has  smiled  upon  the  sacred 
''  cause  in  this  place,  and  the  churches  flourish  here 
"  exceedingly.  Even  now  I  am  about  to  proceed  to 
"  New  Jersey,  to  dedicate  a  new  temple,  raised  to  the 


SENTIMENTS  RELATIVE  TO   DEATH.  357 

service  of  the  living  God.  To  me,  the  increase  of  the 
denomination  with  -which  I  have  so  long  been  identified 
is  a  source  of  peculiar  satisfaction.  My  bodily  health 
is  fully  as  good  as  "when  I  left  Boston ;  and,  by  the 
blessinoj  of  Divine  Goodness,  I  trust  ao^in  to  be  at  home 
in  a  brief  period,  to  enjoy  the  society  of  those  near  and 
dear  to  me.  Please  tell  your  mother  to  duly  regard 
her  health,  and  remember  me  kindly  to  all  the  family. 
"  Affectionately, 

*'HosEA  Ballou." 


"After  the  singing  of  another  anthem,"  says  the  cor- 
respondent of  the  Trumpet,  in  a  letter  from  Newark  rel- 
ative to  the  dedication  referred  to,  "  came  the  sermon,  by 
*'  our  venerable  and  beloved  Father  Ballou,  from  the  fit- 
"  ting  words  recorded  in  1  Chron.  16  :  29.  The  audience 
"  was  not  large,  but  respectable  in  number;  and  from  the 
"  first  moments  when  the  gray-haired  speaker  stood  up 
''before  the  people  till  he  sat  down  again,  the  most 
"  marked  and  almost  breathless  attention  was  given. 
"  The  speaker  believed  that  '  the  name  of  the  Lord' 
"  expressed  all  the  attributes  of  His  adorable  character. 
"  He  proceeded  to  notice  some  of  those  attributes,  with 
"  wonderful  power  and  simplicity,  enforcing  the  truth  that 
"  goodness  must  be  coextensive  with  wisdom  in  the 
''  Divine  character.  He  illustrated  the  workings  of  the 
,"  law  of  love,  as  opposed  to  the  law  of  fear,  by  the  exam- 
' '  pies  of  the  grateful  offerings  of  our  people  to  the  beloved 
"  Washington  and  Lafayette.     The  people  honored  them, 


858  BIOGRAPHY. 

"  not  because  a  terrible  penalty  was  threatened  should 
"  they  refuse  to  yield  the  tribute,  but  because  they  loved 
"  them.  Worship,  true  "worship,  cannot  be  bought ;  it 
"  must  be  free.  It  can  be  offered  only  to  a  God  infinite 
"  in  goodness  and  mercy.  Father  Ballou  affectionately 
"  exhorted  the  people  to  give  unto  the  Lord,  in  the  neat 
"  temple  they  had  reared,  the  glory  so  justly  due  for  all 
"  his  revelations  of  good  will  to  the  children  of  men. 
*'  As  children,  filled  with  gratitude,  should  they  come 
"  into  his  courts.  A  severe,  yet  ^mc?-spirited  rebuke, 
"  was  administered  to  those  who  go  to  church  simply  to 
"  display  fine  apparel,  or  because  it  is  fashionable.  In 
"  doing  our  duty,  we  are  happy,  we  offer  unto  the  Lord ; 
"  while  they  who  serve  fashion  and  popularity  have  just 
''  their  reward,  and  no  more. 

"  I  have  never  listened  to  this  aged  servant  of  God 
"with  greater  delight  and  profit  than  on  that  occasion. 
"  It  hardly  seemed  possible  that  so  clear,  and  forcible, 
''  and  eloquent  a  production,  could  come  from  the  mouth 
"  of  one  who  has  borne  the  brunt  of  eighty-one  years." 

At  the  age  of  four  score,  Mr.  Ballou  preached  before 
the  New  York  Convention  of  Universahsts,  at  Boston,  in 
September,  1851.  Concerning  this  occasion,  Rev.  A.  C. 
Thomas,  in  the  autobiography  before  quoted  from,  says : 
"He  (Mr.  Ballou)  is  an  exception  to  the  'labor  and  sor- 
"row'  affirmed  of  those  who,  by  reason  of  strength,  at- 
"  tain  that  period  of  life.  He  was,  indeed,  feeble  in  body ; 
"  but  '  his  eye  was  not  dim,  nor  his  natural  force  abated.' 
"  He  saw  as  clearly  as  ever  into  the  '  root  of  the  matter,' 


SENTIMENTS  RELATIVE  TO   DEATH.  359 

*'  and  largely  exemplified  his  peculiar  force  of  arguraenta- 
''tion.  Was  there  ever  a  clearer  or  more  forcible  ill us- 
''  tration  than  the  one  he  presented  regarding  a  mother 
"and  her  child? — 'Your  child  has  fallen  into  the  mire, 
"  and  its  body  and  its  garments  are  defiled.  You  cleanse 
"it,  and  array  it  in  clean  robes.  The  query  is,  Do  you 
"  love  your  child  because  you  have  washed  it,  or  did  you 
"  wash  it  because  you  loved  it 7'" 

Mr.  Ballou's  contributions  to  the  press  largely  in- 
creased during  the  latter  years  of  his  life,  and  the  articles 
he  wrote,  at  various  times,  during  this  period,  will  bear 
the  most  critical  examination,  as  it  regards  the  soundness 
of  their  doctrinal  points,  the  excellence  and  purity  of 
their  style,  and  the  Christian  spirit  they  invariably  show 
forth  in  every  line.  These  contributions  to  the  press 
have  appeared  mainly  in  the  "Trumpet  and  Universa- 
list  Magazine,"  the  "  Universalist  Quarterly,"  and  the 
"  Christian  Freeman." 

In  1851,  at  the  solicitation  of  Rev.  Mr.  Usher,  book 
publisher,  Mr.  Ballou  edited  a  collection  of  his  sermons, 
and  wrote  some  original  articles,  which  were  published 
under  the  title  of  "A  Voice  to  Universalists."  This 
book  also  contained  a  collection  of  Mr.  Ballou's  fugitive 
verses,  published  many  years  since,  and  written  for  the 
poet's  corner  of  his  paper.  We  can,  perhaps,  give  no 
better  review  or  reference  to  this  book,  than  by  copying 
Rev.  Thomas  Whittemore's  published  review  of  it,  which 
we  subjoin. 

"The  '  General  Epistle  to   Universalists^  is  itself 


360  BIOGRAPHY. 

"worth  the  price  of  the  book.  Tell  us  not  that  this 
"  might  have  been  published  in  tract,  or  any  cheap  form. 
"It  would  never  have  served  its  mission  thus  to  be  read 
"and  thrown  away.  It  should  have  been  where  it  is,  in 
' '  a  large,  splendid  book,  to  grace  our  centre-tables,  and  to 
"  be  taken  thence  and  read  as  often  as  once  a  month. 

"  The  same  remarks  may  be  made  in  relation  to  the 
"  '  Advice  to  Yoimg  Men  who  design  to  enter  the 
"  Mifiistry.'' 

"  The  '  Short  Essay  on  Universallsm,^  '  The  Doc- 
"  trine  of  Universal  Salvation  shown  to  be  included 
"  in  the  Divine  Commands ^^  and  '  The  Utility  of 
'''•  Evil^^  are  likewise  valuable  mementos  of  their  author; 
"and  so  are  the  two  Convention  Serm^ons. 

"And  then,  in  respect  to  the  metrical  compositions, 
"  we  could  not  spare  them  from  this  book.  True,  the 
"author,  as  he  modestly  says  in  a  note  to  the  reader, 
"  makes  no  pretensions  to  being  a  poet;  yet  his  poetry  is 
"'  to  us  exceedingly  precious.  It  is  in  this  we  discover 
"  more  clearly  the  moral  likeness  of  the  man.  In  the 
"  frontispiece  we  have  a  satisfactory  likeness  of  the  outer 
"  man ;  and  how  should  we  consent  to  tear  from  the  book 
"this  no  loss  accurate  likeness  of  the  souH  In  these 
"hymns  we  see  the  author  in  his  characteristic  meekness 
"of  spirit,  self-abasement,  pure  and  ardent  devotion,  and 
"all-sustaining  faith  in  the  wise  and  perfect  government 
"  of  God.  Here,  too,  in  these  hymns  and  poems,  are 
"specimens  of  the  author's  clearness  and  precision  of 
"  intellectual  discernment,  and  his  argumentative  acumen. 


SENTIMENTS  RELATIVE  TO  DEATH.       361 

*'  The  work  shall  go  down  to  posterity  as  a  memento  of 
«' Father  Ballou." 

The  article  in  this  book  entitled  the  ''  Utility  of  Evil  " 
is  one  of  great  power  and  force.  Mr.  Ballou's  theory  is, 
that  what  ice  call  evil  does  not  exist  without  the  wise 
permission  and  appointment  of  the  infinitely  good  and 
gracious  God.     In  the  article  on  this  subject  he  says  : 

"Reader,  do  not  be  ofiended  at  the  title  of  this  short 
'  article,  and  call  it  impious.  Will  you  say  you  never 
'  before  heard  that  evil  is  useful  ?  Will  you  say  the 
'  suggestion  is  wicked,  and  could  be  made  by  no  other 
'  than  one  who  is  wicked '?  Well,  suppose  all  which  you 
'  imagine  be  true,  may  it  not  be  well  to  be  calm,  and 
'deliberately  consider  that,  though  you  have  never 
*  before  heard  of  this  thing,  it  may,  notwithstanding,  be 
'  a  divine  truth  7  If  you  will  be  candid,  and  bring  your 
'  mind  into  a  suitable  condition  to  be  reasoned  with,  we 
'  will  call  you  to  the  consideration  of  questions  which,  if 
'  properly  answered,  will  lead  us  into  the  true  light  of 
'  our  subject.  1st.  Is  evil  self-existent  7  If  no  one  will 
'  allow  this,  there  is  no  need  of  argument  to  disprove  it. 
'  It  follows,  of  course,  that  evil  had  a  cause  which  pro- 
'  duced  it ;  this  is  self-evident.  2d.  Is  it  not  equally 
'  self-evident  that  the  cause  which  produced  evil  is  good  7 
'  If  we  say  that  the  cause  which  produced  evil  was  evil, 
'  we  thereby  say  that  evil  existed  before  it  existed ! 
When  these  several  points  are  understood,  we  are, 
prepared  to  state  the  following  axioms  : 
31 


362  BIOGRAPHY. 

"  1st.  That  which  had  no  beginning  had  no  cause  to 
''produce  it.  2d.  If  we  should  say  that  good  had  an 
"origin  or  a  cause,  we  should  be  compelled  to  say  that 
"  that  cause  was  evil !  3d.  If  we  allow  that  evil  had  an 
"  origin  or  cause,  we  must  allow  that  the  origin  of  evil  is 
"good."    pp.115,  116. 

From  the  commencement  of  1852  until  within  a  week 
of  his  death,  we  find  him  constantly  active,  with  the 
weight  of  fourscore  years  and  more ;  yet  he  never  for  a 
moment  faltered  in  his  mission.  During  the  last  year  of 
his  life  he  preached  in  seven  different  states,  and  in  about 
forty  different  places.  His  pen  was  still  as  busy  as  ever. 
One  Sunday  found  him  in  Maine,  the  next  in  New 
Hampshire,  the  third  in  Vermont ;  now  he  is  in  New 
York,  New  Jersey,  or  Rhode  Island,  preaching  the  word 
with  unabated  zeal  and  surprising  effect  in  all  direc- 
tions. The  copy  of  the  Trumpet  that  announces  his 
death  contains  two  articles  from  his  pen,  commending  to 
the  order  two  lately  published  biographies,  showing  forth 
as  illustrations  of  what  a  true  and  noble  aim  will  empower 
the  soul  to  do  amid  the  humblest  circumstances,  one  of 
the  strongest  illustrations  of  which  is  his  own  life.  His 
last  paragraph  reads  thus:  "We  need  not  look  forward 
"  to  the  good  time,  for  it  is  now  come,  when  ministers  are 
"esteemed  for  their  knowledge  of  divine  truth,  and  their 
"  ardent  love  for  the  same,  together  with  their  faithfulness 
"in  dispensing  it  to  the  people,  and  their  living  and 
"  walking  in  the  precepts  of  Jesus."     At  the  time  of  his 


SENTIMENTS  RELATIVE  TO  DEATH.      363 

death  he  had  two  appointments  already  arranged,  one  in 
Massachusetts  and  one  in  New  Hampshire,  besides  several 
under  consideration. 

"  Verily,  he  was  at  his  post  to  the  last,"  says  Rev.  T. 
B.  Thayer,  in  his  eulogy  upon  Mr.  Ballou ;  ' '  and  when 
"  the  messenger  came,  he  was  ready.  He  fell  in  the  full 
*'  armor  of  God,  with  the  helmet  of  salvation  on  his  head, 
"  his  spotless  heart  covered  with  the  breastplate  of 
"righteousness,  his  feet  shod  with  the  preparation  of  the 
"gospel  of  peace.  In  one  hand  he  held  the  shield  of 
"  faith,  and  in  the  other  the  sword  of  the  spirit,  which  is 
"the  word  of  God, —  the  sword  which  he  had  for  sixty 
"  years  wielded  with  such  success  in  his  multiplied  battles 
"  with  error  and  sin,  and  by  which  at  last  he  was,  through 
"  Jesus  Christ,  made  conqueror,  and  more  than  conqueror, 
"over  death  and  the  grave.  Verily,  the  old  man  died, 
"as  he  had  lived,  faithful,  courageous,  serene,  victorious, 
"to  the  last." 

It  was  in  these  ripened  days  of  his  experience  that  his 
counsel  was  eagerly  sought  by  all,  laity  and  clergy,  in 
private  and  in  pubhc.  His  activity  and  anxiety  to  be 
about  his  INIaster's  business  carried  him  constantly  into 
the  midst  of  all  important  denominational  assemblies  ,•  and 
here  he  was  ever  received,  both  his  presence  and  his 
counsel,  with  profound  respect.  If  there  was  contention, 
misunderstanding,  or  dijficulty  of  any  sort,  all  eyes  were 
turned  upon  him  who  sat  so  quietly  and  thoughtfully  in 
their  midst ;  he  was  their  peace-maker,  his  calm  voice 


364  BIOGRAPHY. 

stilled  the  tempest,  his  finger  pointed  the  way  towards 
the  right.  As  Mr.  Thayer  says  in  the  eulogy  just  quoted 
from : 

*'  It  will  be  a  long  time  before  we  shall  get  accustomedj 
"in  our  associations  and  conventions,  to  the  absence  of 
''  that  venerable  form,  those  gray  hairs,  and  that  voice  of 
"  wisdom,  and  gentleness,  and  love,  which  came  like  oil 
"  on  the  troubled  waters  of  debate,  and  drew  out  the 
"  entangled  threads  of  thought,  and  by  quaint  queries,  by 
"  questions  which  answered  themselves,  questions  plainer 
"  than  most  men's  answers,  penetrated  to  the  heart  of 
"  every  subject,  and  showed  us,  as  by  a  flash  of  light,  the 
"  exact  point  where  the  truth  lay.  We  shall  often  desire 
''  in  our  councils  his  presence,  his  clear  thought,  his 
"  persuasive  language,  his  gentleness  of  manner,  and  his 
"  conclusive  logic." 

Mr.  Ballou  had  a  most  remarkable  faculty  of  seeing 
through  any  abstruse  question  or  subject  that  came  up 
for  discussion  before  any  body  with  which  he  was  sitting 
in  fellowship,  and  could  at  once  seem  to  set  all  right  in 
their  midst,  by  a  few  shrewdly-uttered  words.  Another 
brother  has  said  of  him  in  this  respect : 

"It  was  wonderful  how  he  would  put  the  needle  in 
"amid  the  tangled  skein  of  reasonings,  in  a  debate,  and 
"  untie  the  knot  just  where  the  whole  might  be  wound  off 
"without  any  difficulty;  and  how  he  would  hold  to  the 
"  essential  point  in  an  important  discussion,  and  dissipate 
"  every  obscuration  that  threatened  to  darken  and  eclipse 


SENTIMENTS  RELATIVE   TO   DEATH.  865 

"  it,  was  astonishing,  and  showed  where  his  power  as  a 
'*  master  reasoner  lay.     Such  was  the  man." 

We  must  now  turn  from  these  desultory  remarks  and 
references,  to  describe  the  end  of  his  earthly  mission. 
31* 


CHAPTER    XV. 

END   OF  HIS  EARTHLY  MISSION. 

How  shall  we  speak  of  the  close  of  that  life  which  we 
have  so  feebly  succeeded  in  portraying, —  how  depict  the 
sunset  of  his  soul  upon  earth, —  how  describe  the  un- 
feigned and  unbounded  sympathy  and  mourning  of  a 
whole  denomination, —  how  refer  to  the  appropriate  cere- 
monies — the  funeral  obsequies  —  that  were  so  beautifully 
and  tenderly  performed  by  the  society  over  whom  he  had 
so  long  held  such  heart-sway,  and  whom  he  loved  better 
than  all  else  on  earth,  save  his  family  ?  How  shall  our 
feeble  pen  portray  these  striking  and  long  to  be  remem- 
bered scenes  7  Throughout  this  entire  subject  we  have 
written  tremblingly,  and  with  a  full  realizing  sense  of  the 
magnitude  of  the  theme,  and  the  humble  ability  of  our 
pen.  But  here  we  feel  our  hand  indeed  too  feeble,  our 
sensibilities  too  acute,  and  shall  call  to  our  aid  stronger 
minds  and  abler  pens. 

In  no  more  appropriate  place  than  here  can  we  refer  to 
his  parting  with  the  loved  companion  of  his  bosom.     His 


END    OF   HIS   EARTHLY   MISSION.  867 

wife  had  been  confined  to  her  chamber  for  some  weeks, 
by  severe  indisposition,  just  previous  to  his  own  last  ill- 
ness, nor  was  she  able  to  leave  it  until  some  time  after 
the  last  obsequies  in  honor  to  his  memory.  On  the 
morning  that  Mr.  Ballou  was  taken  ill,  he  came  to  her 
from  his  own  dressing-room,  kissed  her  tenderly,  and 
bade  her  adieu,  with  all  the  gentle  and  affectionate  solici- 
tude with  which  a  young  husband  might  have  left  his 
bride ;  and,  passing  down  stairs  to  the  parlor,  was  pre- 
paring to  depart  for  the  scene  of  the  convention  at  Plym- 
outh, when  he  was  suddenly  taken  in  a  fainting  fit.  A 
couch  was  immediately  removed  to  the  room  where  he 
was  taken  so  suddenly  ill,  and  he  was  not  removed  from 
it  until  he  fell  quietly  asleep  in  death.  Little  did  the 
fond  wife  and  companion  of  his  bosom  think,  when  he 
bade  her  thus  farewell,  that  it  was  for  the  last  time ;  — 
that  it  was  the  last  time  she  should  ever  behold,  on  this 
earth,  that  countenance  that  had  never  been  turned  upon 
her  save  in  love  and  tenderness, —  that  noble  brow  that 
had  been  her  pride  and  glory  in  its  sublime  truthfulness 
and  purity  of  expression, —  those  eloquent  lips  that  had 
been  such  a  well-spring  of  heavenly  truths  !  But  such  it 
was.  Herself  too  ill  to  be  removed  from  her  chamber, 
she  never  saw  him  afterwards  ;  and  she  still  cherishes  his 
memory  as  associated  with  that  fond  and  endearing  look 
that  accompanied  his  last  kiss  and  farewell ! 

In  relation  to  the  manner  in  which  he  had  prepared 
the  mind  of  his  wife  for  the  event  which  he  seemed  so 


368  BIOGRAPHY. 

clearly  to  foresee,  Rev.  Mr.  Miner,  in  his  farewell  ser- 
mon, said :  — 

"  He  had  often  exhorted  his  companion  to  hold  herself 
''  in  readiness  for  his  departure,  forewarning  her  that 
"  every  separation  from  her  might  be  the  last.  But  a 
*'few  days  previous  to  his  death,  he  had  renewedly  im- 
"  pressed  this  upon  her  mind.  What  a  sublime  specta- 
"  cle  was  this  !  At  more  than  fourscore  years  of  age, 
"  braving  the  rigors  of  mid-winter  and  the  extreme  heat 
*'  of  summer,  and  regardless  of  the  dangers  that  attend 
*'  the  rapid  conveyances  of  our  time,  this  veteran  preacher 
"  '  takes  his  life  in  his  hand,'  and  goes  forth  continually 
*'  to  promulgate  the  everlasting  gospel !  " 

We  must  not  omit  to  give  the  reader  a  brief  article 
which  Mr.  Ballou  left  among  his  papers,  relating  to  the 
close  of  his  earthly  career.  It  was  folded  in  with  his 
accounts,  will,  and  other  important  papers,  and  was 
WTitten  in  his  usual  legible  hand.  It  was  in  the  spirit  of 
a  preface  to  the  will  which  followed,  and  in  which  every 
matter  had  been  plainly  arranged,  with  that  regard  for 
impartiality,  strict  justice  and  completeness,  that  was  in 
accordance  with  his  nature,  and  all  that  he  did  or  said  in 
relation  to  any  subject  in  which  he  engaged. 

"  In  view  of  that  solemn  event,  which  must  unavoida- 
*'  bly  take  place,  which  will  end  my  mortal  days  and 
*'  close  my  labors  on  earth,  I  make  this  serious  and  im- 
' '  portant  declaration  :  I  humbly  and  earnestly  pray  that 
"  the  Father  of  the  spirits  of  all  flesh  may,  in  that  mercy 


END    OF   HIS   EARTHLY   MISSION,  369 

*'  which  he  has  revealed  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  forgive 
*' all  that  in  my  whole  life  he  sees  amiss  in  me.  This 
"  prayer  is  offered  in  that  faith  for  which  I  adore  him 
*'  who  hath  given  it  to  me. 

"  I  heartily  regret  that  I  have  not  been  a  better  hus- 
"band,  a  better  father,  and  especially  a  better  and  more 
^'  useful  minister  of  the  gospel  of  divine  grace.  For  my 
"  faults  in  these  particulars  I  ask  the  forgiveness  of  the 
*'  kind  and  faithful  wife  of  my  bosom,  of  my  dearly- 
*'  beloved  and  dutiful  children,  and  of  the  discerner  of 
"  my  heart  and  thoughts,  to  whom  I  offer  devout  and 
*'  unfeigned  gratitude,  that,  by  his  favor,  I  have  been 
^'  enabled  to  do  as  well  as  I  have  in  the  relation  of  a  hus- 
' '  band,  and  father,  and  minister  of  the  gospel  of  Christ. 
' '  I  sincerely  return  thanks  to  all  my  brethren  in  the 
"  common  faith,  for  all  their  kindness  to  me.  I  sincerely 
*'  thank  the  great  fraternity  of  Christians,  united  with  me 
*'  in  the  precious  faith  in  which  we  believe,  and  especially 
"the  church  and  society  with  whom,  for  more  than  thirty 
*'  years,  I  have  lived  in  love,  and  with  whom  I  have 
'^  labored  in  word  and  doctrine,  for  all  their  numerous 
"favors.  HosEA  Ballou." 

"A  great  man  has  fallen,"  says  the  editor  of  the 
Trumpet.  "There  have  been  but  few  such  men  as 
"  Father  Ballou.  We  can  truly  say  that  those  who 
"  knew  him  best  loved  him  most.  Those  who  had  heard 
"  him  preach  the  oftenest,  and  who  had  read  the  most 
"  thoroughly  what  he  had  written,  felt  more  than  otherg 


370  j>IOGRAPHY. 

'  the  power  of  his  mind,  and  were  more  deeply  convinced 
'  than  others  that  he  was  intellectually,  as  well  as  relig- 
'  iously  and  morally,  a  great  man.  His  life  was  pro- 
'  tracted  beyond  fourscore  years  ;  he  enjoyed  a  very  large 
'  share  of  health  and  strength  through  that  whole  time. 
'  He  was  never  idle :  he  worked,  up  to  the  last  week  of 
'  his  life,  in  the  harvest-field,  and  actually  died  with  the 
'  sickle  in  his  hand.  He  was  taken  sick  at  his  own 
'  house  ;  and,  after  six  days  of  comparatively  light  suf- 
'  fering,  he  gently  fell  asleep  in  death,  quietly  as  an 
'  infant  falls  into  slumber,  and  at  the  moment  when  he 
'  seemed  to  be  putting  his  body  in  the  posture  for  the 
'  coffin. 

"It  is  in  vain  for  us  to  attempt  to  give,  in  this  brief 
'sketch,  an  account  of  the  travels  of  Father  Ballou; 
'  the  small  but  interesting  and  instructive  incidents  of 
'  his  life, —  his  sermons,  his  controversies,  the  different 
'  books  he  wrote,  the  judgment  of  impartial  men  con- 
'cerning  him, —  all  these  things  must  be  left  to  be 
'  described  at  a  time  and  under  circumstances  when  full 
'justice  can  be  done  to  the  illustrious  man.  His  charac- 
'  ter,  too,  must  be  drawn.  For  ourself,  we  say,  most 
'  unreservedly,  we  never  knew  a  better  man.  We  say 
'■  this,  after  having  lived  in  his  family  under  his  imme- 
'  diate  tuition,  and  since  that  time  spent  more  than  thirty 
'  years  side  by  side  with  him,  '  in  journeyings  often,'  in 
'  mutual  consultations,  and  in  very  frequent  interviews. 
'  If  we  ever  saw  a  person  equally  amiable,  kind,  upright, 
'  gentle  and  true,  it  is  the  aged  widow  who  survives  him. 


END   OF  HIS   EABTHLY  MISSION.  871 

'  If  he  was  more  than  a  father  to  us,  she  was  more  than 
•  a  mother.  She  can  never  be  honored  too  much  for  her 
'  goodness.  To  her  must  be  attributed  much  of  the  ease 
'  and  quietness  he  enjoyed  in  life,  and  without  which  he 
'  could  not  have  accomplished  the  full  measure  of  the 
'  good  for  which  he  is  now  beloved  and  reverenced.  So 
'  much  for  the  moral  qualities  of  this  venerable  man  and 
'  woman.  There  remain  yet  to  be  described  (but  it  can- 
'  not  be  done  here)  the  childlike  simplicity  of  the  man ;  his 
'  benevolence ;  his  blindness  to  the  faults  of  others ;  his 
'  open  eye  to  their  virtues ;  his  strong  sense  of  rectitude ; 
'his  remarkable  and  long-continued  habits  of  justice ; 
'  his  wonderful  mind,  so  clear,  so  strong,  to  the  last ;  his 
'eagle-eyed  sagacity;  his  strong  faith  in  God  and  his 
'  word, —  a  faith  like  a  mountain  for  its  towering  height 
'  and  firmness  ;  his  devotion  to  the  truth  ;  his  love  of  the 
'  work  of  the  ministry  ;  his  truly  religious  character  ;  his 
'  susceptibility  to  deep  devotional  feeling ;  his  love  of  con- 
'  ventions  and  associations  for  the  seasons  of  public  wor- 
'  ship  they  gave  him  so  many  opportunities  to  enjoy ;  his 
'  love  of  conference  meetings  ;  his  power  over  the  people ; 
'  his  closing  sermons  at  conventions ;  his  prayers  at  the 
'  separation,  when  all,  old  and  young,  male  and  female, 
'  clergy  and  laity,  would  be  melted  into  tears ;  —  ah  ! 
'  who  shall  attempt  to  describe  all  these  things  ? 

"  For  myself  (for  I  will  throw  off"  the  editorial  style), 
'  I  acknowledge  that  I  feel  most  deeply  the  loss  of  this 
'  steadfast  friend.  I  mourn,  not  for  him,  but  for  myself. 
'  To  me  he  had  been  a  father.     He  found  me  in  my 


872  BIOGKAPHY. 

"  early  manhood,  and  drew  me  out  from  seclusion.  He 
*'  taught  my  lips  to  pray.  He  turned  my  attention  to 
"  the  ministry;  and  he  sought  and  obtained  the  means  to 
''  support  me,  when  I  had  not  a  cent  with  which  to  help 
^'  myself.  He  was  in  the  desk  with  me  when  I  stood  up 
*'  tremblingly  (in  the  town-house  in  Roxbury)  to  preach 
*'  my  first  sermon.  He  introduced  me  to  the  society  in 
''  Milford,  Mass.,  where  I  had  my  first  pastoral  charge,  and 
*'  where  I  formed  the  tenderest  relations  of  human  life; 
*^  and  he  was  the  cause  of  my  being  invited,  in  the  year 
*'  1822,  to  settle  at  Cambridgeport,  where  I  ever  since  have 
"  lived.  For  six  years  thereafter,  I  was  associated  with 
"him  in  conducting  the  '  Universalist  Magazine;'  and 
*'  from  that  time  to  his  death  he  has  been  a  constant  con- 
"tributor  to  the  columns  of  the  'Trumpet,'  refusing  for 
"the  last  ten  years  all  pecuniary  compensation,  although 
"  repeatedly  pressed  upon  him.  He  has  been  the  ear- 
"  nest,  steadfast  friend  of  my  wife  and  children ;  my 
"  earthly  guide  and  counsellor,  who  has  reproved  me,  but 
"  not  too  often  ;  my  teacher  to  the  end  of  his  life;  a  man 
"  of  whom  I  have  learned  more  concerning  God  and  the 
"  divine  word,  and  the  relation  between  God  and  man, 
"  than  I  have  learned  from  any  other  human  source. 
"  How  can  the  event  of  such  a  man's  death  transpire, 
"  without  exciting  in  me  extraordinary  sensations?  And 
"yet  I  am  not  inconsolable.  When  I  reflect  upon  what 
"he  was,  upon  the  length  of  his  hfe,  upon  the  great 
"  measure  of  good  he  accomplished,  upon  the  fact  that  he 
"  was  permitted  (although  so  much  away)  to  die  at  home, 


END   OF  HIS  EARTHLY   MISSION.  873 

"  surrounded  by  his  most  exemplary  and  loving  children, 
"  after  a  very  brief  sickness,  and  to  die  so  gently,  almost 
"  in  the  act  of  binding  sheaves  in  the  harvest-field, —  I 
"  cease  to  mourn.  I  thank  God  for  -what  he  was  ;  and  if 
*'  I  could  call  him  back  to  earth,  I  should  not  dare  to  do  so. 
''  I  thank  God  that  I  saw  him  within  an  hour  of  his  death, 
"  and  that  he  knew  me,  and  extended  his  hand,  and  that 
'*  I  was  permitted  to  take  it  and  kiss  it.  And  now, 
^'  although  there  never  will  be,  for  there  never  can  be, 
*'  another  man  to  me  hke  Father  Ballou,  I  will  be  recon- 
"ciled.  And  I  will  close  this  brief  sketch  with  the 
"  words  of  Job, —  '  The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath 
''  taken  away;  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord.'  " 

Passing  over  the  feelings  of  sorrow,  yet  of  calm  resig- 
nation, that  exercised  the  aged  widow  and  mother,  and 
the  large  circle  of  devoted  and  loving  children,  who  have 
so  fully  realized  the  solemn  character  of  this  bereave- 
ment, we  wish  to  give  here  the  series  of  resolutions 
presented  to  the  mourning  family  by  the  second  Univer- 
salist  society,  over  which  Mr.  Ballou  had  presided  for  a 
period  of  so  many  years.  They  were  communicated  to 
the  family  in  the  same  delicate  and  feeling  manner  in 
which  all  else  relating  to  the  melancholy  event  had 
been  performed  by  those  engaged  in  it.  They  are  as 
follows : 

"Whereas  it  has  pleased  Almighty  God  to  call  to 
*'  himself  our   venerable   father   in  Israel,  Rev.  Hosea 
"  Ballou,  the  senior  pastor  of  this  society,  who  departed 
32 


374  BIOGRAPHY. 

'  this  life  on  the  7th  day  of  June,  1852,  aged  81  years ; 
'  and  whereas,  in  recurring  to  the  events  of  his  long  and 
'  memorable  life,  we  bring  to  mind  the  time  when  he 
'  first  appeared  as  the  fearless  advocate  of  what  he  then 
'  and  ever  afterwards  felt  to  be  God's  truth  as  revealed 
'  in  the  Holy  Scriptures  ;  the  moral  courage  with  which 
'  he  sustained  that  truth  amid  all  the  assaults  of  learn- 
'  ing,  bigotry  and  tradition,  continuing  faithful  to  the 
'  last  in  the  path  that  was  revealed  to  him  as  the  path  of 
'  duty ;  therefore, 

"  Resolved^  That  the  present  prosperous  aspect  of  the 
'  Universalist  denomination,  and  the  gradual  infusion  of 
'  its  principles  into  those  of  other  Christian  denomina- 
'  tions,  are  monuments  of  honor  to  its  pioneers,  of  whom 
'  Hosea  Ballou  was  one  of  the  chief. 

^^  Resolved,  That  the  denomination  of  Universalists 
'  have  therefore  lost,  in  this  dispensation  of  Divine 
'  Providence,  a  champion  whose  latter  days  they  have 
'  delighted  to  honor  ;  a  practical  example  of  the  working 
'  of  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints  ;  and  one  who 
•  has  most  ably  worn  the  breastplate  of  righteousness 
'  and  borne  the  shield  of  faith,  and  who  has  gone  down 
'  to  the  grave  '  full  of  years  and  full  of  honors.' 

"  Resolved,  That  as  sole  pastor  of  this  society  during 
'  a  period  of  about  twenty-seven  years,  and  as  senior 
'  pastor  for  about  eight  years,  his  career  has  been  uni- 
'  formly  marked  by  a  wisdom  and  kindness,  in  all  his 
'■  intercourse  with  its  members,  both  individually  and  col- 
'  lectively,  which   prevented  even  the  approach  of  any 


END    OF   HIS   EAKTHLY  MISSION.  375 

^  discord  between  them ;  and  by  a  large  and  broad 
'  charity,  -which  made  all  mankind  his  brothers,  and  chil- 
'  dren  of  the  same  paternal  God. 

"  Resolved^  That  in  the  death  of  this  venerable  Chris- 
'  tian,  whom  we  have  so  long  looked  up  to  as  a  pastor, 
'  yea,  even  as  a  father,  this  society  especially  has  met 
'  with  a  heavy  loss ;  and  while  we  feel  deeply  the  weight 
'  of  this  afflicting  bereavement,  yet  we  would  gratefully 
'  acknowledge  the  kindness  of  an  all-wise  Providence  in 
'  having  spared  his  life  and  continued  his  usefulness  in 
'  so  signal  and  uninterrupted  a  manner,  during  the  pro- 
'  tracted  period  of  his  connection  with  us. 

''  Resolved^  That  in  the  simplicity  of  his  daily  life, 
'  which  was  most  truly  a  life  without  guile,  we  see  a 
'  proof  of  his  devotion  to  principle  worthy  of  all  honor ; 
'  and  in  his  inflexible  integrity  he  has  left  an  eloquent 
'  lesson,  which  all,  young  and  old,  may  read  with  profit. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  sympathize  most  sincerely  with 
'  the  afflicted  widow,  children  and  other  relatives,  of  our 
'  deceased  pastor,  in  their  bereavement ;  that  we  feel  the 
'  poverty  of  language  to  administer  consolation,  and  can 
'  only  point  them  to  the  sublime  truths  of  gospel  grace 
'  which  their  departed  relative  spent  his  life  in  teaching ; 
'  that  we  fervently  commend  them  to  Him  who  '  tempers 
'  the  wind  to  the  shorn  lamb ; '  and,  while  we  can  hardly- 
'  expect  to  assuage  their  grief  with  the  wound  yet  so 
'  fresh,  we  would  bid  them  sorrow  not  as  those  without 
'  hope,  but  remember  how  many  a  weary  soul  has  found 

rest  from  the  teachings  of  him  they  now  mourn,  and 


376  BIOGRAPHY. 

''  direct  them  to  the  glorious  faith  that  he  is  '  not  lost,  but 
''  gone  before.' 

^^  Voted,  That  the  foregoing  resolutions  be  signed  by 
*'  the  Moderator  and  Clerk,  and  published  in  the  '  Trum- 
"pet'  and  'Freeman,'  and  that  a  copy  of  the  same  be 
*'  forwarded  to  the  family  of  our  deceased  pastor. 

''  G.  W.  Gage,  Moderator . 

^'  Newton  Talbot,  Clerk.'^ 

It  still  remains  for  us  to  describe  the  funeral  ceremo- 
nies ;  and  here  again  we  copy  from  others.  The  descrip- 
tion is  as  it  appeared  in  the  Trumpet. 

"  The  funeral  of  this  venerable  man,  and  faithful  old 
"  Christian  teacher,  took  place  on  Wednesday,  June  9th. 
*'  Prayer  was  first  offered  at  the  house,  in  the  hearing  of 
"the  widow,  who  had  not  left  her  chamber,  and  scarcely 
"  her  bed,  for  some  thirty  days.  This  part  of  the  ser- 
''  vices  was  strictly  private.  The  corpse  was  then  taken 
''  to  the  church,  with  the  members  of  the  family  in  car- 
"  riages. 

"The  church  had  been  very  appropriately  put  in 
' '  mourning  for  the  occasion.  The  large  portrait  in  the 
"  vestry  was  shrouded  in  crape,  showing  nothing  but  the 
"  figure  of  the  aged  preacher,  as  he  stood  in  the  pulpit. 
"  In  the  great  chapel,  the  pulpit,  and  the  recess  back  of 
"  it,  were  dressed  in  drapery  of  black  crape.  The  entire 
"  front  of  the  gallery,  all  around  the  house,  was  fes- 
"  tooned  with  black.     The  organ,  also,  was  appropriately 


END    OF   HIS   EARTHLY   MISSION.  377 

'^  dressed  in  mourning,  in  good  keeping  with  the  other 
"  arrangements. 

"  The  house  was  thrown  open  for  the  public  at  two 
''  o'clock,  at  which  time  large  crowds  were  waiting  at  the 
''  doors ;  and  for  a  full  half-hour  before  the  services  were 
*'  commenced,  every  seat  and  foothold  upon  the  floor, 
*'  aisles,  window-sills  and  recesses,  excepting  reserved 
"  pews,  were  occupied.  At  three  o'clock  the  corpse 
*'  arrived.  The  clergy,  numbering  somewhere  between 
"  sixty  and  a  hundred,  proceeded  from  the  vestry  to  the 
"  pews  assigned  them.  The  members  of  the  Second  Uni- 
''  versalist  Society  also  had  their  appropriate  places. 
*'  The  corpse  was  borne  to  the  position  in  front  of  the 
*'  pulpit,  the  bearers  proceeding  in  the  following 
*'  order: 

''  Rev.  Dan'l  Sharp,  D.  D.,      ^      ^^^v.  Edward  Turner, 
"  Rev.  S.  Barrett,  D.  D.,        ^      Rev.  S.  Streeter, 

''  Rev.  S.  Cobb,  O      Rev.  T.  Whittemore, 

I  I 

*'  Rev.  L.  R.  Paige,  k^      Rev.  Josiah  Gilman. 

"  During  the  entrance,  the  organ  gave  forth  a  mourn- 
*'  ful  prelude.  The  sight  was  a  most  affecting  one, —  so 
"  vast  a  multitude  with  such  an  expression  of  sorrow 
"  upon  their  countenances. 

"1.  The  services  were  introduced  by  a  funeral  chant, 
''  after  which 

"  2.  Scriptures  were  read  by  Rev.  0.  A.  Skinner. 

"  3.  The  following  hymn  was  sung,  many  of  the  con- 
''  gregation  joining  their  voices  to  that  of  the  choir. 
32=^ 


378  BIOGRAPHY. 

HYMN. 

**  On  Zion's  holy  walls 

Is  quenched  a  beacon-light ; 
In  vain  the  watchman  calls, 

*  Sentry  !  what  of  the  night  ?  * 
No  answering  voice  is  here  ; 

Say,  —  does  the  soldier  sleep  ? 
0,  yes,  —  upon  the  bier. 
His  watch  no  more  to  keep. 

Still  is  that  heaven-touched  tongue. 

Pulseless  the  throbbing  breast  ; 
That  voice  with  music  strung 

Forever  put  to  rest. 
To  rest?     A  living  thought, 

Undimmed,  un quenched,  he  soar   . 
An  essence,  spirit  wrought. 

Of  yon  immortal  shores. 

Peace  to  thee,  man  of  God ! 

Thine  earthly  toUs  are  o'er ; 
The  thorny  path  is  trod. 

The  Shepherd  trod  before. 
Full  well  he  kept  his  word, — 

*  I  'm  with  thee  to  the  end  ; 
Fear  not !    I  am  the  Lord, 

Thy  never-failing  Mend  !  * 

We  weave  no  dirge  for  thee, — 

It  should  not  call  a  tear 
To  know  that  thou  art  free  ; 

Thy  home,  —  it  was  not  here  ! 
Joy  to  thee,  man  of  God  ! 

Thy  heaven-course  is  begun  ; 
Unshrinking  thou  hast  trod 

Death's  vale,  —  thy  race  is  run!" 


END   OF  HIS  EARTHLY   MISSION.  379 

"  4.   Prayer,  by  Rev.  Thomas  Whittemore. 

*'  5.    Hymn,  '  Vital  Spark  of  Heavenly  Flame  ! ' 

*'  6.  Sermon,  by  Rev.  A.  A.  Miner,  junior  pastor, 
"  from  2  Cor.  5  :  1, — '  For  we  know  that  if  our  earthly 
"  house  of  this  tabernacle  were  dissolved,  we  have  a  build- 
*'  ing  of  God,  a  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in 
^'  the  heavens.' 

"  7.    Hymn,  '  Unveil  thy  Bosom,  Faithful  Tomb.' 

''  8.    Concluding  Prayer,  by  Rev.  Sebastian  Streeter. 

"  9.    Benediction. 

''  During  the  singing  of  the  last  hymn,  persons  began 
*'  to  press  around  the  coffin,  to  get  a  last  view  of  the 
*'  departed.  Notice  was  therefore  given,  at  the  close  of 
*'  the  service,  that  the  coffin  would  be  placed  in  the  entry, 
*'  and  all  would  have  an  opportunity  to  see,  as  they  passed 
'•out;  but,  on  account  of  the  great  number,  each  must 
''  content  himself  with  a  brief  farewell  view.  The  funeral 
"procession  was  formed  in  the  following  order:  1st. 
*'  Bearers,  in  carriages.  2d.  The  body.  3d.  The  com- 
''  mittee  of  the  society.  4th.  The  clergy  of  the  Uni- 
''  versalist  denomination,  amounting  to  nearly  a  hundred. 
''  5th.  The  members  of  the  Second  Universalist  Society. 
"  6th.  The  friends  from  the  neighboring  towns.  7th. 
*'  The  mourners,  in  carriages. 

"  This  procession  extended  from  the  head  of  School- 
"  street  to  the  corner  of  Boylston-street,  being  nearly 
''  half  a  mile. 

''  An  immense  body  of  people  had  arrived  at  the  ground 
"  previously  to  the  funeral  procession.     The  corpse  was 


380  BIOGRAPHY. 

^'  borne  to  the  temporary  resting-place,  in  the  burjing- 
''  ground  at  the  foot  of  the  Common,  where  it  was  depos- 
"  ited.  The  lid  of  the  coffin  was  raised,  and  those  who 
"  desired  passed  by  once  more,  and  then  the  solemn  scene 
"  was  closed." 

The  last  Sabbath  that  Mr.  Ballou  preached  was  on  the 
30th  of  May,  1852, —  eight  days  before  his  death, —  at 
Woonsocket,  R.  I.     The  texts  were  the  following : 

''Forenoon.  —  Ecclesiastes  12:  13,  14.  'Let  us 
"  hear  the  conclusion  of  the  whole  matter  :  Fear  God, 
"  and  keep  his  commandments  :  for  this  is  the  whole  duty 
"  of  man.  For  God  shall  bring  every  work  into  judg- 
"  ment,  with  every  secret  thing,  whether  it  be  good,  or 
^'  whether  it  be  evil.' 

"Afternoon.  —  Titus  2:  11,  12.  'For  the  grace 
"  of  God  that  bringeth  salvation  hath  appeared  to  all 
"  men,  teaching  us  that,  denying  ungodliness  and  worldly 
"  lusts,  we  should  live  soberly,  righteously  and  godly,  in 
"  this  present  world.'  " 

The  fact  of  Mr.  Ballou's  having  preached  his  last 
sermon  in  Rev.  John  Boyden's  desk,  a  brother  who  had 
once  been  an  inmate  of  his  family  as  a  student  of  divinity, 
has  elicited  the  following  letter,  which  seems  particularly 
appropriate  here  : 

"Dear  Sir:  — 

"  I  rejoice  most  sincerely  to  learn,  as  I  do  this  day, 
"  that  you  are  so  soon  to  give  us  a  memoir  of  Father 
"  Ballou.  And,  if  it  be  not  asking  too  much,  I  should 
"  be  glad  of  a  little  space,  that  I  may  record  my  tribute 


END    OF  HIS  EARTHLY   MISSION.  381 

"  of  filial  affection.  He  was  to  me  a  father,  indeed;  and 
"  to  him  I  owe  more  than  to  any  other  man, —  and,  per- 
''  haps,  all  others, —  for  the  little  good  I  may  have  accom- 
"  plished  as  a  minister  of  Christ.  He  was  mj  teacher 
*'  when  he  knew  it  not. 

''  When  I  was  about  fourteen  years  old,  I  heard  him 
''  preach,  in  the  town  of  Brookfield;  and  I  am  sure  the 
'^  impression  that  sermon  made  will  remain  to  the  end  of 
''  my  hfe.  It  was  designed  to  unfold  the  riches  of  Christ 
"  Jesus.  As  the  theme  opened,  the  audience  became 
"  intensely  interested;  and,  as  the  preacher  gathered  and 
"  arranged  the  sacred  testimony,  to  unfold  the  gracious 
"  purposes  of  our  Heavenly  Father  as  manifested  through 
"  the  Redeemer,  we  seemed  hke  hungry  children,  watch- 
'^  ing  the  maternal  hands  that  feed  them.  And  when  he 
"  laid  the  precious  burden  before  us,  he  would  exclaim,  in 
''  all  his  wonted  earnestness,  '  Do  you  see  the  imsearch- 
^^  able  riches  of  Christ?^  Again  he  would  go  forth, 
"  gathering  other  fruits  of  the  divine  love,  and  again 
''  repeat,  as  a  part  of  his  text,  '  Do  you  see  the  unsearch- 
"  able  riches  of  Christ'?'  This  was  the  conclusion  of 
"  each  division  of  the  discourse  ;  and  it  served  not  only 
*'  to  rivet  it  in  our  minds,  but,  by  the  involuntary  mental 
*'  response  which  it  induced,  made  us  almost  co-workers 
*'  with  the  speaker,  and  thus  gave  us  growing  interest  in 
"  the  theme. 

"  From  that  hour,  and  from  the  influence  of  that  single 
"  discourse,  I  had  a  strong  desire  to  aid  in  unfolding  the 
"  '  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ'  to  my  fellow-men.    My 


382  BIOGRAPHY. 

"young  heart  felt,  for  the  first  time,  that  there  was  a 
"  fulness  in  the  provision  which  our  Father  had  made  for 
"  us  that  the  world  had  not  known ;  and  it  seemed  to  me 
''  I  must,  some  time,  preach  that  blessed  gospel.  Not 
"  more  than  three  or  four  years  after  that  time,  I  heard 
"  him  preach  one  of  his  masterly  sermons,  in  Charlton, 
"  which  fired  my  soul  anew  with  a  desire  to  enter  the 
''  ministry.  His  text  was,  '  For  we  preach  not  ourselves, 
"  but  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord,'  &c.  After  reading  the 
''  text,  he  carefully  folded  his  glasses,  put  them  in  his 
"  pocket,  as  was  his  custom,  and,  while  the  audience 
"  were  waiting  with  breathless  attention,  that  they  might 
"  secure  the  first  word  that  should  fall  from  his  lips,  he 
"began  thus:  —  'The  text  supposes  that  there  is  such 
"  a  thing  as  a  man's  preaching  himself.^  The  audience 
^^  breathed, —  a  token  that  they  already  possessed  the 
"  key  to  the  sermon.  But  it  was  a  remarkable  charac- 
' '  teristic  of  his  sermons,  that,  though  you  might  early 
"anticipate  the  conclusion  to  which  he  was  coming,  yet 
"  you  could  not  foresee  the  process  by  which  he  was  to 
"  lead  you,  since  that  was  peculiarly  original.  That 
"  sermon  strengthened  my  conception  of  the  glory  of  the 
"  gospel  as  we  understand  it,  and  especially  when  he  con- 
"  trasted  with  it  the  fading  and  sickly  glory  of  all  forms 
"  of  partialism.  He  made  us  understand  how  easy  and 
"  agreeable  a  duty  it  was  to  preach  Christ;  because  in 
"  him  there  was  neither  inconsistency,  partiality  nor 
"  cruelty.  A  sermon  from  this  text,  I  know,  has  been 
"  printed;  but  that  sermon  I  have  never  seen  on  paper, 


END   OF  HIS  EARTHLY  MISSION.  383 

nor  can  my  poor  pen  describe  the  heavenly  glow  of 

feeling  expressed  by  the  countenances  of  that  assembly. 

Perchance  the  record  is  in  heaven. 

"  On  the  fourteenth  day  of  May,  1829,  I  entered  his 

family  as  a  student ;  and  let  me  here  say  it  was  home. 

There  were  my  adopted  father  and  mother,  brothers 
'  and  sisters ;  and  never  were  the  beautiful  relations 
'  indicated  by  these  endearing  words  in  a  single  instance 
'  marred.  God  bless  them,  for  the  words  of  sympathy 
'  and  encouragement  that  fell  upon  the  ear  of  the  timid 
'  young  man  !  The  recollections  of  my  experience  in  that 
'  family  tell  me  that  no  man  knows  the  good  he  is  doing, 
'  if  his  heart  be  right.  There  is  a  world  of  power  in  a 
'  single  word,  when  it  falls  on  a  needy  and  congenial  soil. 

"  During  the  last  week  of  that  month,  and  when  I  had, 
'  as  yet,  written  but  one  sermon,  Father  Ballou  engaged 
'  with  Father  Leonard,  of  Gloucester,  that  I  should  sup- 
'  ply  his  desk  the  following  Sunday.  I  remonstrated. 
'  I  had  never  spoken  in  public,  except  to  declaim  as  a 
'  school-boy ;  and  it  seemed  to  me  I  could  not  stand  up 
'■  alone  and  preach  all  day,  and  especially  so  soon  after 
'  formally  commencing  my  studies.  But  to  all  this  his 
'  reply,  in  substance,  was,  that  the  gospel  was  very  easy 
'  to  be  understood ;  that  the  matter  of  it  was  all  furnished 
'■  to  my  hands ;  that  I  was  only  a  steward  of  God's  grace, 
'  and  had  only  to  give  to  the  people  what  was  given  to 
'  me  in  the  divine  word.  Well,  I  told  him  I  would  go, 
'  if  he  said  so ;  but  he  would  have  to  bear  the  responsi- 
'  bility,  if  I  failed. 


884  BIOGRAPHY. 

"  In  the  morning,  before  leaving  for  Gloucester,  I  read 
'  my  last  sermon  to  him ;  and  then  it  was  that  he  gave 
'  me  a  word  of  commendation,  that  was  like  a  generous 
'  shower  upon  the  parched  ground.  And  this  was  fol- 
'  lowed  by  the  well-remembered  injunction  :  '  Brother 
'  Bojden,  I  have  only  one  word  to  say  in  reference  to 
'  your  labors,  and  that  is,  be  in  earnest.  Don't  speak 
'  one  word  without  making  the  people  understand  and 
'  feel  that  you  believe  it  with  all  your  heart.'  This  was 
'  the  only  charge  he  ever  gave  me,  till,  at  my  ordination, 
'in  Berlin,  Ct.,  in  1830,  he  enjoined  it  upon  me  to 
'  carry  the  spirit  of  our  holy  religion  into  all  my  labors, 
'  and  especially  when  I  should  go  to  the  chamber  of  sick- 

*  ness,  and  to  the  house  of  mourning.  The  tremulous 
'  words,  as  they  fell  from  the  lips  of  the  father  upon  his 
'  son,  stirred  the  whole  audience  with  emotion.  They 
'  were  treasured  in  many  hearts,  and  often  repeated,  both 
'  by  the  old  and  young,  who  waited  on  my  ministry. 

"For  myself,  I  must  say  they  made  a  lasting  impres- 
'  sion  on  my  mind  ;  and  often,  since  that  time,  as  I  have 
'  visited  the  sick  and  dying,  has  that  venerable  form  pre- 

*  ceded  me,  renewing  the  tender  injunction,  '  Come  in  the 
'spirit  of  the  blessed  Redeemer.'     I  trust  those  words 

*  were  not  thrown  away.  And  when,  as  will  happen  with 
'  most  men,  my  wearied  frame  has  imparted  languor  to  my 
'  speech,  I  have  sometimes  been  aroused  by  the  sudden 
'recollection  of  that  stirring  appeal  —  'Be  in  earnest.' 
'  I  know  it  has  often  quickened  and  warmed  my  zeal ;  and 
'  when  I  remember  that  it  was  the  motto  of  his  life  to  the 


END   OF  HIS  EARTHLY  MISSION.  385 

'  last,  I  pray  that  it  may  be  to  me  as  a  live  coal  from  the 
'  altar. 

^^  PimchmUti/ is  another  0^  the  sterling  virtues  that 
'  cluster  around  that  name,  and  his  example  has  been  of 
'  special  service  to  me.  It  characterized  all  his  labors.  I 
'  have  known  him  much  for  twenty- three  years,  and  I 
'  never  knew  him  to  be  late  in  fulfilling  any  engagement, 
'  and  he  always  took  time,  so  as  not  to  be  in  a  hurry.  On 
'  the  occasion  of  the  installation  of  Bro.  A.  Bugbee,  of 
'  Charlton,  some  years  ago,  he  delivered  the  scriptures 
'  and  gave  the  charge.  In  the  course  of  his  address,  he 
'  dwelt  upon  the  above-named  virtue  with  no  little  feeling. 
' '  Bro.  Bugbee,'  said  he,  '  when  you  come  to  church, 
^  co7ne  in  season.  Don't  let  the  people  come  here  and 
'  wait,  and  wonder  within  themselves,  saying.  Where  is 
'  Bro.  Bugbee  ?  Is  Bro.  Bugbee  sick  ?  And  0,  don't 
'■  forget  to  take  time,  before  you  commence  your  services, 
'  to  put  up  a  silent  prayer  to  God,  that  he  may  aid  and 
'  assist  you  in  the  discharge  of  your  sacred  duties.' 

"  I  know  that  that  occasion  was  one  of  peculiar  joy  to 
'  many  hearts,  and  it  was  as  the  blessing  of  God  on  my 
'  soul.  The  religious  spirit  within  us  was  quickened ;  and 
'  many  a  time  since,  in  my  humble  efforts  to  preach  the 
'  gospel,  that  '  silent  prayer '  has  brought  celestial  fire 
^  from  heaven,  and  imparted  new  life  to  my  spiritual  being. 
'  Doubtless  there  are  many  in  the  ministry  whose  experi- 
'  ence  accords  with  my  own  in  these  things,  and  whose 
'  usefulness  may  be  in  a  good  measure  attributed  to  the 
'  personal  influence  of  that  great  and  good  man,  who, 
33 


386  BIOGRAPHY. 

"great  as  he  was,  could  not  have  comprehended  the  vast 
"results  of  which  his  unostentatious  life  was  the  agent. 
"  And  may  we  not  all  be  encouiaged  to  hope,  that,  if  we 
"live  good  lives,  the  harvest  will  extend  beyond  the  ken 
"of  the  sower? 

"  But  the  most  interesting  fact,  to  me,  in  the  life  of  my 
"spiritual  father,  is,  that  he  closed  his  public  services  in 
"  my  own  pulpit,  in  the  presence  of  a  delighted  congrega- 
"tion,  and,  as  I  believe,  of  an  approving  God.  His  last 
"  sermons  are  well  remembered,  even  by  children.  He 
"has  never  preached  here  with  greater  zeal,  power,  and 
"  comprehensiveness.  We  accept  his  services  as  the  bless- 
"ing  of  a  dying  hour,  and  our  veneration  for  the  man  is 
"mingled  with  gratitude  to  the  everlasting  Father,  for  so 
"  great  a  gift  to  our  world. 

"  Fraternally  yours, 

"J.  BOYDEN,  Jr. 

"  Woo7isocket,  Jvly  6,  1852." 

The  following  is  taken  from  the  report  of  L.  W.  Bal- 
lon, superintendent  of  the  Sabbath-school  attached  to  the 
Woonsocket  Universalist  Society,  which  school  the  sub- 
ject of  this  biography  visited  and  spoke  before  on  the  day 
referred  to.  It  is  especially  interesting  as  being  con- 
nected with  his  last  public  efforts. 

"  On  the  thirtieth  of  May  it  was  our  privilege  to  be 
"  visited  by,  and  to  receive  the  last  public  instructions  of, 
"  our  venerable  Father  Ballou ;  for  in  one  week  from  the 
"  time  he  left  us  '  the  golden  bowl  v^as  broken,'  and  that 


END   OF  HIS   EARTHLY  MISSION.  887 

*'  voice  to  which  we  had  so  recently  listened,  and  which 
"  had  breathed  life  and  joy  into  so  many  souls,  was 
*'  hushed  forever.  But  in  his  works,  in  his  example,  in 
"  the  glorious  doctrines  which  for  more  than  sixty  years 
"  he  labored  to  establish,  he  still  hves  and  speaks,  and 
"  will  live  and  speak  for  ages  to  come.  Long,  I  trust, 
*'  shall  we  remember  that  venerable  form,  that  cheerful 
"  and  benevolent  countenance,  and  the  words  of  encour- 
"  agement  and  hope  with  which,  for  the  last  time,  he 
"  addressed  us,  rejoicing  that  we  were  no  longer  taught 
''as  in  times  past,  and  as  some  are  even  now,  that  by 
"  nature  we  are  children  of  wrath,  and  under  the  curse 
"  of  God ;  but  that  God  is  our  father,  our  benefactor,  our 
"  best  friend, — that  he  cares  for  and  is  blessing  us  always. 
"  Thus  did  our  aged  father  close  his  public  ministrations, 
"  in  proclaiming  the  same  great  doctrine  which  he  had 
"  spent  his  life  to  establish, —  the  unbounded,  universal, 
*'  and  unchangeable  love  of  God  to  man. 

"  Let  us  be  as  faithful  to  the  truth,  and  in  the  perform- 
"  ance  of  our  duty,  in  the  sphere  in  which  we  move,  as 
"  he  was  in  his,  and  the  same  rich  blessings  will 
''  attend  us." 

The  subject  of  this  biography  entered  most  heartily  and 
sincerely  into  the  spirit  of  Sabbath-schools;  and  since 
their  general  introduction  in  our  societies,  throughout  the 
order,  he  has  taken  peculiar  satisfaction  in  improving 
every  suitable  occasion  for  addressing  and  encouraging 
both  teachers  and  scholars  in  the  object  which  engaged 
them,  wherever  he  was  called  to  preach.     In  his  own 


BIOGRAPHY. 

society  he  had  seen  the  great  good  to  be  derived  from 
such  an  institution,  as  it  regards  the  rearing  of  the  tender 
mind  in  the  garden  of  the  Lord ;  and  he  often  mingled 
professionally  with  children  and  teachers.  The  able  and 
feeling  remarks  of  the  superintendent,  Mr.  Goddard,  as 
given  above,  will  show  the  appreciation  in  which  the 
members  of  the  school  had  been  taught  to  hold  their  pas- 
tor, and  the  spirit  that  actuated  the  hearts  of  the  teachers 
towards  him,  under  whose  Christian  teachings  they  had, 
most  of  them,  been  brought  up  from  childhood. 

The  following  verses,  an  invaluable  legacy  to  Mr.  Bal- 
lon's  family,  and  to  all  those  who  really  loved  him,  were 
written  by  him  in  anticipation  of  the  closing  hour  of  his 
life.  The  date  we  cannot  give,  as  the  original  paper  bears 
none;  but,  from  accessory  circumstances,  and  remarks 
which  he  made  to  his  wife,  that  he  felt  he  was  "  nearly 
worn  out,"  and  that  she  must  be  prepared  to  hear  of  his 
decease  at  any  hour, —  perhaps,  even,  away  from  home, 
—  they  may  be  supposed  to  express  his  feelings  more  par- 
ticularly within  a  very  few  days  of  the  close  of  his  life. 
They  require  no  dedication  from  us.  They  are  priceless, 
and  beautiful  in  the  extreme. 

The  verses  are  thus  introduced  :  — 

"  A  minister,  experiencing  certain  infirmities  of  body  which  strongly 
"  suggested  to  him  that  he  might  be  suddenly  called  away,  wrote  the 
"  following 

FAREWELL  ADDRESS. 
I. 
No  more  thy  beams  mine  eyes  delight. 
Thou  golden  sun  !  the  shades  of  night 
Are  o'er  my  vision  cast. 


END    OF   HIS   EARTHLY   MISSION.  389 

Adieu  to  tliy  bright,  clieering  rays, 
Thy  morning  light,  thy  noon-tide  blaze. 

Thy  settings  in  the  west. 
II. 
And  thou,  sweet  moon,  Avhose  silver  beam 
Did  on  my  evening  rambles  gleam, 

I  need  thy  light  no  more  ; 
And  you  who  twinkle  in  the  skies 
No  more  shall  set,  no  more  shall  rise. 

To  me,  as  heretofore. 
III. 
Ye  waves  of  ocean,  fare  you  well ; 
Adieu  to  mountain,  hill  and  dell. 

Rich  fields  and  gardens  too  ; 
Your  flowery  robes  and  fragrance  sweet 
No  more  my  peaceful  walks  shall  greet  ; 

I  bid  ye  all  adieu. 

ly. 
Ye  murmuring  streams,  whose  winding  way 
Through  flowery  meads  and  woodlands  lay. 

And  every  limpid  rill. 
And  all  ye  feathered  tribes  of  air. 
With  voices  sweet  and  plumage  fair, 

Accept  my  last  farewell. 

V. 

Adieu,  sweet  Spring,  the  time  of  flowers  ! 
Thy  zephyrs  soft,  thy  falling  showers. 

No  more  have  charms  for  me  ; 
Maternal  Summer,  too,  adieu  !  — 
These  eyes  no  more  thy  beauty  view. 

Nor  thy  rich  treasures  see. 

VI. 

Autumn  and  Winter's  social  glee 
Afford  their  charms  no  more  to  me,  — 
They  but  a  moment  last ; 

33* 


390  BIOGRAPHY. 

For  life's  short  season  now  is  o'er, 
I  taste  its  joys,  its  griefs,  no  more, — 
The  transient  scene  is  past. 

VII. 

Ten  thousand  friends,  and  more,  farewell ! 
With  gratitude  affections  swell 

Within  this  breast  of  mine  ; 
And  you,  my  foes,  although  but  few. 
Do  share  in  this,  my  last  adieu,  — 

May  mercy  on  ye  shine  I 

VIII. 

Thou  sacred  desk,  where  oft  I  've  stood 
To  plead  the  cause  of  truth  for  God, 

To  you  I  say  farewell  ; 
That  I  've  been  faithful  to  my  Lord 
I  call  for  witness  on  his  word,  — 

His  word  he  will  fulfil. 

IX. 

And  you,  my  congregation  dear. 
Kindly  regard  the  farewell  tear. 

So  freely  shed  for  you  ; 
For  all  your  favors  to  your  friend. 
May  Heaven  blessings  to  you  send. 

And  every  grace  renew. 

X. 

One  struggle  more  shall  end  the  strife  ;  — 
My  children  dear,  my  loving  wife. 

Ye  dearest  joys  of  earth. 
Accept  this  last,  this  fond  adieu  ; 
While  I  have  lived  I  've  lived  for  you. 

But  now  resign  my  breath. 


END    OF   HIS   EARTHLY   MISSION.  391 

XI. 

That  Pow€r  wliidi  does  for  birds  provide, 
And  clothes  the  grass  in  all  its  pride. 

Much  more  shall  nourish  you  ; 
On  that  kind  arm  in  peace  recline, 
Submissive  to  the  will  divine,  — 

Believe  his  promise  true. 

XII. 

And  now  my  work  on  earth  is  done. 
To  thee,  my  Lord,  my  God,  I  come. 

Still  trusting  in  thy  grace  ; 
As  earth  recedes  may  I  arise, 
To  be  with  Jesus  in  the  skies. 

And  see  his  lovely  face !  *' 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

CONCLUSION. 

A  MODERN  writer  says,  after  a  visit  to  the  splendid 
tomb  of  David  Hume,  at  Edinburgh,  "When  I  looked 
"  upon  the  spot,  I  could  not  forget  that  his  best  powers 
*'had  been  dehberately  exerted  to  load  the  minds  of  men 
<'  with  doubts  of  their  God." 

*•  To  poison  at  the  fountain's  source 
The  stream  of  life  throughout  its  course.'* 

Let  US  contrast  the  feelings  thus  naturally  arising  in 
the  mind,  as  it  contemplates  the  life  of  the  English  his- 
torian, with  those  that  will  spring  up  spontaneously  in  the 
heart  of  him  who  looks  upon  the  last  resting-place  of  the 
subject  of  this  biography.  His  whole  life  was  a  practical 
plea  for  the  glorious  character  of  his  Heavenly  Father, 
and  every  power  of  his  nature,  both  mental  and  physi- 
cal, was  entirely  devoted  to  and  expended  in  bearing  wit- 
ness of  God's  love  and  impartial  grace.  Who  covets 
the   world-wide   fame  of    the   infidel    historian?     Who 


CONCLUSION.  39S 

would  not  leave  behind  him  the  glorious  memory  of  the 
true  Christian  ?  Greatness  may  build  the  tomb,  but 
goodness  must  write  the  epitaph. 

**  Only  the  actions  of  the  just 
Smell  sweet,  and  blossom  in  the  dust." 

We  have  thus  brought  the  narrative  of  Mr.  Ballou's 
life  down  from  its  commencement  to  its  close.  In  the 
execution  of  the  task,  it  is  feared  that  many  imperfections 
and  deficiences  will  be  detected ;  but  we  have  the  consola- 
tion of  reflecting  that,  at  least,  we  have  not  been  guilty 
of  exaggeration,  and  throughout  have  sought  only  to  pre- 
sent the  truth  in  the  clearest  light,  and  with  the  same 
simpHcity  that  the  subject  of  these  pages  would  have 
commended.  We  have  most  ardently  endeavored  to 
make  manifest  the  pure  character,  consistent  conduct,  the 
high  intellectual  ability,  the  unaffected  piety,  and  labori- 
ous and  unremitted  services^  of  the  deceased  to  the  great 
cause  he  espoused  in  early  life.  Had  he  placed  a  higher 
estimate  upon  his  own  labors,  he  would  have  left  behind 
him  a  complete  record  of  his  toils,  that  would  have  inter- 
ested the  most  careless  and  worldly  reader.  But,  while 
he  never  spared  himself,  he  appears  to  have  seen  no 
unusual  merit  in  his  unexampled  labors ;  he  was  simply 
discharging  his  duty  to  his  Maker  and  his  fellow- men. 
The  thouo^ht  of  challencrino;  admiration  for  his  sacrifices 
of  comfort,  for  his  exposures  and  trials,  seems  never  to 
have  occurred  to  him ;  and  hence  the  minutes  of  his  per- 
sonal adventures  are  brief  and  imperfect.     He  has  only 


894  BIOGRAPHY. 

given  us  enough  to  enable  us  to  guess  at  the  extent  of  his 
toil.  For  the  result  of  his  labors  and  travels,  we  have 
only  to  look  around, —  to  behold  the  multiplied  churches 
springing  up  where  he  first  preached  in  school-houses, 
dwelling-houses,  or  even  beneath  the  fruit-trees,  to 
numerous  congregations  that  have  found  faith  and  hope 
through  his  ministrations,  who  fondly  regard  him  as  the 
father  of  their  order,  and  who  rise  up  to  bless  his  name. 
Though  his  lips  are  now  sealed  forever,  yet  his  doctrine, 
a  precious  legacy,  is  left  for  us  still,  in  his  own  language ; 
and,  with  the  example  and  influence  of  his  pure  life,  we 
may  find  the  surest  guide  to  the  understanding  of  the 
gospel  as  it  is  in  Christ. 

It  is  true  that  the  bow  is  broken ;  but  the  arrow  is  sped 
on  its  message,  and  will  pierce  the  heart  of  error.  The 
subject  of  these  pages  was  not  a  man  for  his  own  time 
alone ;  he  has  lived  for  all  time.  We  find  in  the  pages  of 
history  actors  upon  the  stage  of  life  peculiarly  fitted  for 
the  immediate  period  in  which  they  lived;  men  active, 
bold,  successful,  and  ever  ready  for  any  emergency ;  men 
governed  by  principles  and  incentives  peculiarly  adapted 
to  the  day  and  hour,  without  whom  it  would  have  been 
difiicult  to  realize  the  seeming  destiny  of  man,  and  the 
results  and  history  of  the  times.  Yet  those  persons,  if 
they  were  to  exist  now,  would  be  out  of  their  element ; 
there  would  not  occur  the  same  exigencies  to  call  forth 
their  particular  endowments  of  courage  and  endurance. 
They  illustrated  tangible  matter,  and  performed  deeds  of 
personal  prowess ;    but  Mr.  Ballou  enunciated,  defined, 


CONCLUSION.  395 

elucidated  and  illumined,  a  great  principle,  a  fundamental 
truth,  something  that  will  live  through  all  eternity, —  not 
the  ephemeral  act  of  an  hour,  which,  however  timely  and 
important  at  the  moment,  is  forgotten  with  the  casualty 
that  gives  it  birth.  No  !  Mr.  Ballon  was  not  for  his  own 
time  alone, —  he  was  for  all  time. 

His  advent  in  the  religious  world  was  the  commence- 
ment of  a  new  era  in  the  church  ;  and  from  that  day  and 
that  hour  the  little  glimmering  of  the  light  of  truth  which 
was  seen  as  afar  off  grew  daily  larger,  and  brighter,  and 
clearer,  as,  in  the  onward  journey  of  his  years  and  his 
understanding,  he  came  to  behold  the  gospel  as  it  is  in 
Christ,  and  to  preach  it  to  the  world.  Nature  about  him 
had  taught  this  impartial  grace  and  goodness  of  God  for 
ages  and  ages,  but  the  tongues  of  men  had  been  fabricating 
and  declaring  another  creed.  It  was  no  new  truth  that 
he  illustrated  and  believed  ;  but  he  gave  it  oral  form,  and 
depicted  it  before  men's  eyes. 

Our  task  draws  now  to  its  close ;  we  have  recorded  the 
closing  incidents  of  that  life  on  whose  eventful  record  we 
have  reverentially  dwelt,  and  we  must  soon  resign  the 
pen  with  w^hich  we  have  feebly  depicted  the  story  of 
departed  w^orth.  It  remains  for  us  to  give  a  rapid  retro- 
spective glance  at  the  career  we  have  traced,  with  a  brief 
recapitulatory  view  of  the  subject.  The  author  has  made 
no  attempt  at  fine  writing,  and  has  sought  only  to  present 
a  "  plain,  unvarnished  tale,"  in  keeping  with  the  unosten- 
tatious simplicity  of  the  subject  of  his  pages.  In  these 
busy  and  stirring  days,  most  readers  crave  an  exciting 


300  BIOGRAPHY. 

book  of  thrilling  incident.  In  preparing  the  life  of  a  dis- 
tinguished warrior,  or  a  bold  adventurer,  startling  inci- 
dents and  scenes  crowd  upon  the  writer,  till  the  task  of 
condensation  becomes  both  imperative  and  difficult.  The 
turbulent  stream,  rushing  from  its  mountain  home,  tum- 
bling amidst  rocks  and  dashing  over  precipices,  affords  a 
picture  at  every  point  of  its  progress ;  wdiile  the  course 
of  a  river,  that  rises  in  some  placid  lake,  and  pursues  its 
pathway  noiselessly  and  tranquilly,  till  lost  in  the  world 
of  waters  that  swallows  up  its  individuality,  however 
pleasing  an  object  of  contemplation,  is  little  fitted  to  fig- 
ure in  an  elaborate  personal  record,  or  to  minister  to  the 
restless  eye  of  the  lover  of  the  bold  and  startling  in 
nature. 

The  life  of  the  subject  of  these  pages  may  be  compared 
to  that  of  a  quiet  streamlet,  making  itself  felt  by  the 
verdure  and  freshness  it  diffuses  around  it,  but  not 
startling  the  ear  by  the  tumult  of  motion.  Hence,  those 
who  merely  take  up  a  book  for  amusement  or  excitement, 
will  find  themselves  disappointed  with  this  biography.  It 
•was  not,  however,  for  such  tastes  that  the  book  was 
designed.  It  is  rather  a  medium  of  communication 
between  filial  affection,  and  that  scarcely  colder  feeling  of 
friendship  and  respect,  shared  by  a  large  and  increasing 
denomination  of  Christians,  whose  common  love  for  the 
subject  of  these  pages  will  secure  indulgence  towards  the 
author. 

They  will  rather  follow  the  delightful  traits  of  Chris- 
tian  character   he  evinced,  will  admire   the   truth   and 


CONCLUSION.  397 

genuineness  of  his  nature,  the  sweet  simplicity  of  his  soul, 
and  the  magnitude  and  glory  of  his  doctrine,  than  pause 
to  criticize  the  simple  garb  that  has  clothed  these  special 
and  important  matters.  It  Avill  be  the  kernel,  not  the 
shell,  that  our  readers  will  discuss ;  and  if  we  have,  in  our 
humble  way,  succeeded  in  so  portraying  the  life  of  our 
parent  as  to  place  it  any  more  clearly  and  faithfully  before 
men's  eyes,  then  we  have  done  a  good  work,  and  our  labor 
has  not  been  in  vain.  If,  by  the  exhibition  of  his  happy 
faith,  and  the  application  of  his  own  arguments,  we  shall 
have  succeeded  in  confirming  even  one  soul  in  the  sacred 
and  cheering  faith  he  advocated,  we  shall  have  sufficient 
reward  in  our  own  heart  for  the  toil  of  this  work.  He 
would  have  labored  continually  and  unceasingly  to  lead  a 
soul  in  the  straight  and  narrow  way ;  no  fatigue,  no  disap- 
pointment, was  ever  any  hindrance  in  his  path,  when  duty 
held  the  lamp.  His  eyes  were  turned  onward  and  up- 
ward ;  they  overlooked  the  rugged  way,  strewn  with  rocks 
and  quicksands,  over  which  he  strode  towards  the  great 
goal  of  his  life,  the  promulgation  of  God's  fatherly  love 
to  man. 

More  fortunate  than  many  whose  works  have  enriched 
the  world,  we  have  seen  that  Mr.  Ballou  lived  long  enough 
to  enjoy  an  honorable  fame.  Long  before  he  died  the 
voice  of  calumny  was  hushed.  He  had  accomplished 
what  Burke  had  advised  for  the  refutation  of  slander, — 
he  had  "  lived  it  down."  The  shafts  of  mahce  fell  harm- 
less from  the  shield  of  his  unspotted  conscience.  He  had 
achieved  a  greater  triumph  yet  than  the  surviving  of  the 
34 


398  BIOGRAPnY. 

assaults  aimed  against  his  reputation  as  a  man  :  he  lived 
to  behold  the  truth  he  had  so  advocated,  in  which  and  for 
which  he  lived,  adopted  by  hundreds  of  thousands  as  the 
staff  of  their  lives  and  the  rock  of  their  salvation.  It 
would  be  difficult  to  find,  in  any  age,  the  record  of  a 
greater  victory  of  intellectual  power. 

As  we  have  fully  shown,  Mr.  Ballou  started  in  life 
with  no  aids  for  the  development  of  his  mental  energies. 
His  circumstances  were  such  as  would  have  completely 
crushed  a  majority  of  gifted  minds.  Isolation,  privation, 
the  want  of  mental  stimulus,  surrounded  him.  The 
example  and  aid  of  elder  scholarship  was  wanting.  The 
steps  to  the  temple  of  knowledge  were  hewn  by  his  own 
hands  out  of  the  rugged  and  unyielding  rock.  He  had 
no  strong  hand  to  grasp  his  own,  and  bear  him  up,  and 
stay  his  tottering  footsteps.  Yet,  with  an  iron  grasp,  he 
seized  upon  the  rudiments  of  knowledge,  and  made  them 
his  own.  And,  while  satisfying  the  cravings  of  his 
nature,  he  neglected  no  duty  of  life.  Those  who  had 
claims  upon  his  industry  suffered  no  injury  or  loss  from 
this  source,  for  the  hours  devoted  to  his  early  studies  were 
heroically  subtracted  from  hours  of  repose.  When  others 
rested  from  bodily  toil,  he  was  wakeful  and  toiling  mentally. 

The  energy  displayed  in  his  pursuit  of  knowledge, 
under  such  extraordinary  difficulties,  prepares  us  for  the 
yet  greater  energy  exhibited  in  his  subsequent  course. 
Accustomed  to  accomplish  his  purpose  by  severe  labor, 
we  find  him  continually  proposing  to  himself  questions  of 
difficulties  to  be  solved  only  by  severe  intellectual  exer- 


CONCLUSION.  399 

tion.  He  cultivates  his  moral  intellectual  nature  so 
rigidly,  that  he  is  not  lightly  satisfied  on  any  subject. 
But  we  are  most  impressed  with  the  beauty  of  his 
spiritual  nature.  Most  energetic  minds  are,  we  think, 
prone  to  scepticism.  They  doubt,  resolve  their  doubts, 
and  then  cling  firmly  and  forever  to  the  truths  they  have 
established. 

It  is  said,  ''A  resolved  doubt  is  the  strongest  proof.'' 
Paul  began  by  opposing  religion,  and  ended  as  one  of  its 
champions.  But  with  Mr.  Ballou  there  was  no  necessity 
of  going  through  with  this  usual  process.  His  existence 
and  his  belief  were  identical.  He  recognized  his  Maker 
in  his  words  and  in  his  works ;  fiiith  was  his  earliest 
companion,  and  she  was  with  him  to  the  last.  Her  light 
illumined  his  earliest  and  his  last  step ;  as  it  beamed  upon 
him  with  its  morning  radiance,  and  cheered  his  noontide 
with  its  glow,  so  it  was  the  broad,  unshadowed  sunset  of 
his  life. 

We  have  seen  how  early  his  inquiring  and  steadfast 
mind  began  to  pierce  the  shadows  and  darkness  with  which 
dogmatism  had  obscured  the  true  nature  of  God,  and  the 
spirit  of  his  law.  The  clouds  were  not  dispelled  all 
at  once.  By  degrees  they  rolled  away,  as  his  vision 
strengthened,  until,  at  length,  his  eyes  beheld  the  full 
glory  of  God  in  its  effulgent  splendor.  The  moment 
when  the  last  veil  was  withdrawn,  and  he  beheld  the 
glorious  form  of  Truth  embodied  in  the  creed  which  he 
ever  afterwards  professed,  was  the  crown  and  summit  of 
his  existence.     Then  he  found  and  grasped  a  treasure 


400  BIOGRAPHY. 

"which  the  world  could  not  take  away.  Years  might  pass 
before  the  many  would  embrace  his  doctrine ;  but  he  knew 
that  it  must  eventually  make  its  way  to  men's  hearts  and 
understanding,  and  that  it  would  be  universally  recog- 
nized and  triumph  in  the  end. 

From  the  moment  of  his  discovery,  his  mission  was 
decided,  his  calling  confirmed,  his  path  through  life  traced 
out  as  clear  as  daylight.  He  felt  called  upon  and  inspired 
to  preach  the  gospel  of  love  to  all  mankind ;  and  he  went 
forth  upon  his  mission,  resolved  to  fulfil  it  to  the  utmost 
of  his  strength  and  talent.  Surely  no  man  ever  more  faith- 
fully performed  his  allotted  task.  In  the  discharge  of  his 
duty,  we  behold  him  fearing  no  toil,  sparing  no  exertion, 
shrinking  from  no  obstacle.  A  man  loving  peace  and 
quiet,  yet  he  hesitated  not  to  assume  the  weapons  of 
controversy  when  his  doctrines  were  assailed.  With  him, 
indeed,  the  truth  was  everything, —  himself  nothing. 
Hence,  we  are  left  no  record  of  his  many  journeyings,  his 
lonely  wayfarings,  his  midnight  labors.  He  accounted 
these  things  as  nothing,  as  dust  in  the  balance,  weighed 
against  the  service  he  espoused,  and  the  gospel  interests 
which  he  strove  to  advocate. 

The  following  letter  addressed  to  us  from  Manchester, 
N.  H.,  a  few  years  since,  now  lies  open  before  us,  and 
will  serve  to  show  the  reader  the  indomitable  perseverance 
that  the  subject  of  these  memoirs  brought  to  bear  upon 
his  professional  duties ;  —  how  little  he  spared  himself  in 
the  prosecution  of  his  great  mission ;  how  totally  he  dis- 
regarded bodily  ease  or  comfort,  when  brought  in  opposi- 


CONCLUSION.  401 

tion  to  the  prosecution  of  his  sacred  mission  on  earth.  It 
is  also  another  of  those  brief,  meaning  and  affectionate 
epistles  such  as  he  ever  wrote,  exhibiting  the  same  reliance 
upon  Divine  Providence  that  ever  exercised  his  bosom  :  — 

"  Maturix  :  Last  Sabbath  was  to  me  a  day  of  severe 
"trial.  Early  in  the  morning  I  was  attacked  with  a 
"sudden  illness,  which  so  weakened  me  by  meeting- time 
"  that,  although  I  made  two  determined  efforts  to  go  on 
"with  my  discourse,  the  last  was  as  unsuccessful  as  the 
"  first,  and  I  was  finally  compelled  to  yield  to  my  bodily 
"  weakness,  giving  the  people  to  expect  my  services  in 
"the  afternoon.  Dr.  Colburn  kindly  conveyed  me  to  his 
"  house,  and  he  and  his  good  lady  so  nursed  me  that,  by 
"  meeting- time  in  the  afternoon,  I  walked  to  church  and 
"went  through  with  my  usual  services,  sparing  myself 
"  the  labor  of  reading  the  hymns.  Through  the  goodness 
"  of  an  all-ruling  Providence,  that  has  ever  sustained  and 
"supported  me  in  every  trial,  I  am  now  recovering,  and 
"  am  quite  as  well  as  before  this  attack,  save  that  I  am 
"very  weak. 

"The  reason  I  have  written  you  particularly  is,  that 
"your  mother  and  the  family  generally  may  not  be 
"alarmed  by  the  report  which  will  very  naturally  reach 
"you  before  I  can  return  home.  Please  send  me  a  few 
"current  newspapers.  Affectionately, 

"HosEA  Ballou." 

He  neglected  no  means  for  the  advancement  of  truth  j 

34* 


402  BIOGRAPHY. 

discourses  from  the  pulpit,  colloquial  discussions,  written 
essays,  poetical  effusions,  all  were  brought  to  sustain  the 
one  great  idea  he  advocated.  Though  his  oral  instruc- 
tions were  poured  forth  on  every  occasion,  he  well  knew 
the  mighty  power  of  the  press  over  the  minds  of  com- 
munity, and  he  wielded  this  agent  with  vigor  and  effect. 
As  his  example  in  the  pulpit  was  followed  by  a  host  of 
disciples,  so  did  his  essays  in  the  press  give  birth  to  a 
race  of  vigorous  literary  champions  of  the  gospel.  But, 
above  all,  was  the  "  daily  beauty  of  his  life  "  the  strongest 
evidence  of  the  sincerity  of  his  convictions,  and  the  truth 
of  his  doctrine.  The  example  that  teaches  better  than 
precept  was  manifested  in  his  social  existence.  His 
cheerful  deportment,  his  resignation  under  trials,  were 
proofs  of  a  ''  peace  which  the  world  cannot  give." 

His  principles  forbade  him  to  teach  or  to  show  that 
this  beautiful  world  was  created  as  a  gloomy  prison-house 
to  the  sons  of  men.  Late  and  copious  extracts  from  his 
own  pen,  in  these  pages,  will  abundantly  show  this.  He 
delighted  to  point  out  the  radiance  of  the  raiment  with 
which  our  Heavenly  Father  has  gladdened  our  temporary 
abiding- place.  He  loved  to  trace  the  "smile  of  the 
Great  Spirit,"  in  the  gushing  water-courses,  the  verdant 
meadows,  the  bright  skies,  the  murmuring  woodlands,  the 
flower-enamelled  fields,  and  the  blue  arch  that  bends  over 
all,  enclosing  it  within  a  crystal  sphere.  He  was  no 
enemy  to  social  enjoyment ;  no  frown  of  his  ever  checked 
the  joyous  laugh  bursting  from  young  lips,  or  dimmed 
the  brightness  of  the  domestic  fireside.     In  the  relations 


CONCLUSION.  403 

of  husband,  father,  friend,  he  was  loved  and  revered, — 
how  dearly  and  deeply,  let  the  sorrow  that  has  fallen  on 
our  hearts  at  parting  speak  ! 

He  has  gone  from  our  midst !  His  stately  form  will  no 
more  gladden  our  eyes,  the  music  of  his  voice  will  no 
more  warm  our  hearts,  the  pressure  of  his  hand  will  no 
more  answer  responsively  to  ours.  But  he  has  departed, 
full  of  years  and  fame,  to  that  bright  world  above,  whose 
glory  was  the  theme  of  his  existence.  Emulating  the 
virtues  v/hich  his  well-ordered  and  beautiful  life  exhibited, 
cherishing  the  gospel  truths  in  all  their  purity,  simplicity 
and  attractiveness,  as  he  taught  them,  may  we  im- 
prove our  own  lives  by  the  recollection  of  his,  and  open 
our  hearts  to  the  still  yet  eloquent  sermon  he  now 
preaches  to  us  from  the  silent  tomb  !  And  let  that  sacred 
belief,  which  he  taught  us  to  rely  upon  and  to  hold  as 
most  dear  to  our  hearts,  fill  us  with  a  hope  and  assurance 
of  a  final  and  happy  reunion  with  him  in  heaven  !  In  his 
own  family  he  fully  succeeded  in  implanting  a  spirit  of 
behef  in  and  entire  reliance  upon  God's  love  to  his  children ; 
and,  could  the  reader  behold  the  influence  that  this  belief 
now  exercises  over  the  heart  of  his  aged  widow,  what  a 
tower  of  streno;th  and  calm  resiornation  she  realizes  from 
the  faith  he  impTCs^ed  upon  her,  h'i  ^ would  find  fresh 
reason  for  Christian  fortitude^' and  new  lioge  and  faith  in 
the  gospel.         -    \*'\{^,  •, /  •'    l^^/^]   i    ''^^ 

And  now,  erette  reader /closes "  these  pages,  permit 
the  author  to  ask  for  tho'bpQk  alk^J^^^  ^9"sideration,  and 
to  solicit  the  lenient  judgment  of  the  public  for  these 


404  BIOGRAPHY. 

records  of  a  parent's  life,  written  and  compiled  amid  the 
arduous  duties  attendant  upon  his  editorial  calling.  The 
work  has  little  else  to  recommend  it,  save  the  homely 
truthfulness  of  its  record,  and  the  sincerity  that  has 
dictated  its  composition. 

To  the  many  friends  of  Mr.  Ballou,  and  more  particu- 
larly to  the  denomination,  clergymen  and  laity,  with 
whom  he  has  so  long  held  fellowship,  the  author  trusts 
this  book  may  prove  an  acceptable  memento  of  one  whom 
they  delighted  to  honor. 


NEW  WORKS, 

JUST  PUBLISHED. 


MEMOIR  OF  REV  S.  R.  SMITH. 

By  Rev.  T.  J.  Sa\vyer,  D.D.     With  a  splendid  Portrait.      Pages   432. 
Price,  in  plain  binding,  $1  ;  in  full  gilt  binding,  $1.50. 

Dr.  Sawyer  has  had  an  acquaintance  with  the  subject  of  this  Memoir  for 
twenty  years  ;  besides,  he  has  in  his  hands  all  the  papers  which  Mr.  Smith 
left  behind  him,  copies  of  letters,  &c.  The  work  is  made  up,  to  a  consider- 
able extent,  from  those  various  materials,  and  may  therefore  be  regarded 
as  in  a  manner  an  autobiography.  The  last  words  written  for  the  press  by 
Father  Ballou  relate  to  this  book  and  the  Life  Sketches  of  George  H.  Clark, 
hereafter  referred  to,     Mr.  Ballou  says  : 

"  Having  carefully  read  this  Memoir,  and  by  it  having  been  made  ac- 
qviainted  with  many  particulars  in  the  life  of  a  highly-esteemed  brother  in 
our  ministr}',  with  whom  I  have,  for  many  years,  enjoyed  a  most  cordial 
and  aifectionate  fellowship,  it  is  a  pleasurable  duty  to  recommend  the  work 
to  the  favorable  consideration  of  the  whole  fraternity  of  believers  in  the 
gospel  of  a  world's  salvation. 

"  The  learned  writer  of  the  Memoir  has  taken  much  pains  to  bring 
together  much  of  the  writings  of  his  favorite  subject,  whereby  he  has  ren- 
dered the  work  in  a  great  degree  autobiographical,  and  made  his  readers 
acquainted  with  the  strength  of  mind,  temper,  spirit  and  taste,  of  our 
departed  brother.  This  work  carries  us  back  to  the  parentage,  birth,  child- 
hood and  youth,  of  one  who  has  distinguished  himself,  by  the  evident  aid  of 
divine  wisdom,  as  an  able,  faithful,  and  successful  minister  of  the  gospel  of 
our  Di\'ine  Master.  And  if  our  young  men,  who  are  desirous  of  making 
the  ministry  of  di\ane  truth  their  profession,  would  carefully  read  this 
woi-k,  poverty  in  its  more  meagre  shapes  would  present  no  formidable 
objection.  Br.  Smith,  having  successfully  grappled  with  poverty,  and  won 
a  praise  and  a  name  which  throw  crowns  and  diadems  into  the  shade,  seems 
now  to  be  looking  down  on  these  youth,  and  pointing  them  to  the  path 
•which  he  has  trod,  to  bid  them  put  their  trust  in  Him  by  whose  aid  he  has 
won  an  unfading  crown. 

"  Br.  Sawyer  surely  deserves  the  gratitude  of  our  denomination  for  the 
justice  he  has  done  to  the  character  of  our  departed  brother,  and  for  the 
encouragement  which  this  Memoir  is  calculated  to  give  to  our  brethren  who 
are  laboring  in  our  Master's  vineyard.  And  our  thanks  and  patronage 
should  be  generously  rendered  to  the  publisher  of  this  work,  not  only  for 
the  handsome  style  in  which  it  appears,  but  for  his  laudable  devotion  to  the 
cause  of  truth,  and  his  successful  labors  for  its  prosperity." 

"  Great  interest  has  been  excited  in  the  denomination  by  the  promise  of 
this  book.  *  *  The  life  of  such  a  man,  from  the  pen  of  one  so  highly 
distinguished  and  so  gifted  as  Kev.  Dr.  Sawyer,  cannot  but  awaken  a  wide- 


ADVERTISEMENTS. 


spread  and  anxious  desire  for  its  appearance.  It  has  now  been  given  to  the 
public,  and  well  docs  it  sus:tain  the  reputation  of  all  parties  concerned  in  ita 
publication.  *  ♦  A  work  of  this  class  has  never  appeared  in  the  denom- 
ination which,  for  fineness  of  paper,  beauty  of  print,  and  neatness  of  bind- 
ing, has  excelled  this.  "We  predict  that  it  will  have  a  very  large  sale."  — 
Christian  Ambassador. 

"  It  will  be  read  with  great  interest  by  all." —  Trumpet. 

"  Mr.  Sawyer  has  done  well  in  allowing  his  hero  to  tell  so  much  of  the 
story  of  his  times  through  his  own  letters  and  reminiscences." —  Christian 
Inquirer. 

"  His  example  is  full  of  encouragement  to  others,  and  cannot  fail  to  stim- 
ulate thousands,  who  are  drooping,  to  push  on  in  the  career  of  self-improve- 
ment."—  Yankee  Blade. 

"  This  is  one  of  the  most  thoroughly  executed  Biographies  that  we  have 
met  with  among  recent  publications  of  the  kind.  *  *  The  Memoir  is 
worthy  of  the  author  and  of  the  venerated  subject  ;  and,  if  we  mistake  not, 
it  must  exert  a  powerful  influence  for  good  upon  the  Universalist  Connec- 
tion, as  well  as  upon  others,  through  the  more  noble  example  it  holds  up  of 
a  true  minister  of  Jesus  Christ.  By  it,  he,  '  being  dead,  yet  speaketh.'  " — 
Universalist  Quarterly. 

"  This  is  a  specimen  of  true  Biography.  We  have  attentively  and  grate- 
fully read  it,  and  our  estimate  of  the  man,  the  greatness  of  his  aims,  and 
the  thoroughness  of  his  devotion  thereto,  has  been  increased.  There  ia 
notliing  of  the  spirit  of  man-worship  here  ;  and  if  there  be  any  lack,  it  is 
on  the  side  of  enthusiasm  of  personal  friendship,  holding  back  the  writer 
from  a  full  expression  of  heartfelt  admiration  of  his  subject." —  Ladies'' 
Repository . 


GRACES  AND  POWERS  OF  THE  CHRISTIAN  LIFE. 

By  Rev.  A.  D.  Mayo.     12mo.,  about  300  pages.     Price  75  cents. 

This  is  a  series  of  twenty  sermons,  by  Mr.  Mayo,  on  the  above  subject, 
which  cannot  but  prove  a  valuable  acquisition  to  our  Denominational  Lite- 
rature. 

"  This  is  a  beautifully  printed  book,  and  its  interior  life  and  its  ideal 
corresponds  with  its  actual.  *  *  The  style  of  the  author  is  modern  and 
graceful,  and  the  moral  influence  of  the  work  cannot  be  otherwise  than  safe 
and  good." —  Banner. 

"  Mr.  Mayo's  composition  reveals  a  pure  spark  of  genius,  gleaming,  if  it 
does  not  blaze,  running  like  a  bright  thread  and  clue  through  the  labyrinth 
of  thought,  and  bringing  to  light  many  a  blessed  region  of  truth  and  peace." 
—  Christian  Register. 

"  We  have  been  greatly  charmed  in  reading  it,  both  by  the  earnestness 
and  depth  of  its  thought,  and  the  sweetness  and  purity  of  its  style." — 
Blade. 

"  Its  influence,  wherever  it  circulates,  will  be  most  elevating  and  sancti- 
fying."—  Christian  Ambassador. 

"  We  take  pleasure  in  saying  that  this  volume  of  sermons  has  our  hearty 
fellowship,  and  the  prevalence  of  the  spirit  in  its  pages  would  enlarge  vastly 
the  communion  of  liberal  Christians." —  Christian  Inquirer. 


ADVERTISEMENTS. 


LIEE-SKETCHES  OF  EEV.  GEOEGS  H.  CLARK. 

By  his  Brother.     "With  a  fine  likeness.     16mo.     160  pages.     Price  50  e. 

Sketches  of  the  eventful  life  of  this  early-fallen  brother  were  written  by 
the  request  of  many  friends.  The  volume  embraces  a  rapid  succession  of 
scenes  and  incidents,  drawn  from  numerous  papers  left  by  the  deceased,  and 
portrayed  by  one  dearly  familiar  with  him  from  early  life.  Father  Ballou's 
note  of  this  work  is  as  follows  : 

"  This  brief  memoir  of  our  young  and  esteemed  brother  in  the  ministry 
of  God's  universal  efficient  grace  commends  itself  as  an  affectionate  tribute 
to  the  memory  of  the  departed,  from  the  pen  of  a  loving  brother.  It  must 
also  be  grateful  to  the  whole  family  circle,  who  survive  the  departed  son 
and  brother,  to  have  in  their  possession  so  valuable  a  treasure. 

"  This  work  will  be  read  with  interest  and  profit  by  youth  in  general, 
and  especially  by  such  as  think  of  devoting  their  lives  to  the  ministerial 
profession.  When  such  shall  learn  the  fact,  that  moderate  circumstances 
and  limited  means  do  not  necessarily  prevent  a  young  man  from  becoming 
a  minister  and  a  pastor,  highly  esteemed  and  beloved  by  a  good  and  re- 
spectable church  and  society,  they  need  not  shrink  from  a  hope  of  success. 

"  AVe  need  not  look  forward  to  the  good  time,  for  it  is  now  come,  when 
ministers  are  esteemed  for  their  knowledge  of  divine  truth,  and  their  ardent 
love  for  the  same,  together  with  their  faithfulness  in  dispensing  it  to  their 
people,  and  their  living  and  walking  in  the  precepts  of  Jesus." 

"  The  subject  of  these  memoirs  died  young.  He  had  been  in  the  ministry 
but  a  few  years.  He  had  lived,  however,  and  labored,  a  sufficient  length 
of  time,  to  prove  himself  to  be  an  able  and  eloquent  preacher  of  the  gospel, 
and  to  become  endeared  to  all  who  formed  his  acquaintance.  It  abounds 
•with  incidents  in  the  life  of  the  deceased." —  Christian  Ambassador. 

"  The  book  abounds  in  incidents,  and  is  very  interesting." — Banner. 

"  The  book  is  one  of  thrilling  interest." — Freeman. 

•'  The  book  is  a  record,  traced  with  a  loving,  sympathetic,  and  brotherly 
band,  of  the  trials,  hopes,  joys,  sorrows,  life  experiences  and  death,  of  a 
professional  as  well  as  a  natural  brother." —  Springfield  Republican. 

"  This  is  an  affectionate  tribute  to  the  memory  of  a  worthy  man,  — one  of 
the  many  instances  where  high  aims  are  unfortunately  united  with  slender 
means,  rendering  life  not  so  much  '  a  battle  and  a  march,'  as  a  perpetual 
struggle.  We  respected  the  brother  whose  life  is  here  sketched,  and  have 
thoroughly  read  the  volume  with  interest." — Ladies^  Repository. 


GLIMPSES  AND  GATHERINGS, 

During  a  Voyage  and  Visit  to  London  and  the  Great  Exhibition,  in  the 

Summer  of  1851.     By  Rev.  W.  A.  Drew,  Commissioner  of  the  State  of 

Maine.     With  a  Portrait.     About  400  pages.     Price  !^1. 

The  undersigned  issues,  in  connection  with  the   publishers  of  the  Gospel 

Banner,  the  above  work.     It  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  and  instructive 

volumes  of  travel  ever  published. 

"  This  volume  consists  of  letters  Avritten  by  the  author  to  the  Gospel 
Banner,  of  which  he  is  the  well-known  editor,  during  his  recent  visits  to 
Canada  and  England.  During  their  original  publication  they  were  read  with 
keen  interest  by  the  numerous  patrons  of  that  paper,  as  well  as  by  the  Maine 
public  generally  ;  and  it  was  a  happy  idea  to  gather  them  into  a  volvime 


ADVERTISEMENTS. 


for  more  distant  readers,  as  well  as  for  future  perusal  and  reference.  The 
author  has  a  sharp  eye  for  observation,  as  well  as  great  felicity  in  descrip- 
tion ;  writes  in  an  easy,  off-hand,  yet  vigorous  style ;  and,  on  the  whole,  has 
placed  before  us  the  clearest  and  most  graj^hic  picture  of  London  and  the 
sights  in  the  Crystal  Palace  that  we  have  yet  met  with.  Not  the  least 
interesting  portions  of  the  volume  are  the  descriptions  of  Montreal,  Quebec, 
and  their  environs,  to  the  accuracy  and  felicity  of  which  we  can  testify." 
—  Yankee  Blade. 

*' An  interesting  series  of  sketches." —  Univer.  Quar. 

"  It  is  highly  attractive  in  narration  of  incidents,  scenery  and  sights. 
What  makes  it  more  valuable  to  us  is  a  very  natural  likeness  of  the  author, 
executed  with  much  skill  and  beauty." —  Christian  Ambassador. 


THE  WORKS  OF  KKV.  HOSEA  BALLOU. 

The  death  of  this  Patriarch  of  the  Universalist  Ministry  gives  additional 
value  to  his  Works,  and  especially  to  those  written  in  the  years  of  his 
strength  and  vigor. 

The  subscriber  is  the  publisher  of  those  works,  and  will,  furnish  sets  of 
the  same,  or  single  volumes,  issued  in  the  best  style  of  typography  and 
binding. 

I.  Notes  on  the  Parables  of  the  New  Testament.  One  vol.  12mo., 
297  pages.     Price  50  cents.     First  published  in  1804. 

II.  A  Treatise  on  the  Atonement.  One  vol.  12mo.,  328  pages. 
Price  50  cents.    First  published  in  1805. 

III.  Series  of  Twenty-six  Lecture  Sermons.  Delivered  in  the 
School-street  church,  Boston.  One  vol.  12mo.,  375  pages.  Price  62i 
cents.     First  published  in  1818. 

IV.  Twenty-five  Select  Sermons.  Delivered  on  various  occasions, 
from  important  passages  of  Scripture.  One  vol.  12mo.,  360  pages. 
Price  63  cents.     First  published  in  1828. 

These  are  the  works  in  which  the  convictions  of  Father  Ballou  are  best 
expressed,  and  circulation  should  be  given  to  them  by  all  who  are  desirous 
of  diifusing  the  wisdom  of  that  sainted  man.  The  "  Notes  on  the  Parables  " 
are  remarkable  examples  of  Scripture  interpreting  Scripture  ;  the  "  Trea- 
tise on  Atonement "  is  a  piece  of  mental  reasoning  intelligible  to  the 
humblest  capacity  ;  and  the  "  Lectures  "  and  "  Select  Sermons  "  are  rare 
expoundings  of  the  divine  word,  and  the  great  principles  of  Scripture  truth. 

The  subscriber  is  also  preparing  to  issue  a  fine  edition  of  the  above  works, 
to  be  bound  in  a  uniform  style  with  the  Biography  ;  and  the  whole  will 
then  be  sold  at  $4  per  set. 

A.  TOMPKINS. 

Boston,  August,  1852. 
^W  Agents  wanted  to  Circulate  the  roBEGoiNa  Works. 


(^ 


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